Sep 20, 2005
Ethiopian Review

Meles Zenawi left New York in a hurry and arrived in Addis Ababa last Saturday after attending the United Nations General Assembly on Sep 15. Meles used to go to Washington DC after attending UN annual meetings, but this time he left the U.S. in a hurry to avoid questioning by Tensae Radio lawyers, observers say.

A counter lawsuit is being filed against Meles, Bereket and other top officials of the EPRDF regime by Tensae radio accusing them of torture and murder of Ethiopian civilians. According to the evidences that are being gathered so far, some of victims could be close relatives of Ethiopian Americans.

Tensae Radio initiated the counter lawsuit after Meles and his officials filed a lawsuit against Tensae Radio officials charging them of defamation. The lawsuit was filed in a Virginia court. When Meles took this legal action, he waived any diplomatic immunity he may have, legal experts informed Ethiopian Review.

The counter lawsuit may force Meles and his officials to stay away from the United States and European countries to avoid deposition, and possible arrest.

Law experts say that the June 8 massacre is particularly troublesome for Meles since he took direct command of the security forces that perpetrated the mass murder.