BBC NEWS | Africa | Ethiopia life jail terms = attacked

Ana Gomes told the BBC the sentences were "farcical" and "inhumane" = and urged=20 the EU to seek their release.=20

Another eight people were given shorter jail terms, while five were = tried in=20 absentia for their role in violent protests at alleged poll-rigging.=20

Bereket Simon told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the = government=20 was looking into their apology and request for a pardon=20

"The prisoners have admitted... trying to overthrow the government by = the use=20 of force and have asked for clemency."=20

He said that now that the legal process had ended, a new = political=20 process would start.=20

Many Ethiopians expect the 38 to be freed soon by the government.=20

Their relatives say the detainees have signed a document which could = pave the=20 way for their release.=20

The prosecution had demanded the death penalty for them all.=20

Reconciliation

Ms Gomes told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that she thought = life in=20 prison was just as bad as the death penalty.=20

"[Their] only crime was to express their opinions freely in = elections, which=20 were supposed to be democratic," she said.=20

High court judge Adil Ahmed also barred the 30 Coalition = for Unity=20 and Democracy (CUD) leaders from voting or standing for election.=20

"The accused have committed serious crimes, which caused the death of = civilians and security forces and attempted to overthrow the = government," he=20 said.=20

"The accused have also failed to present to the court mitigating = evidences=20 for the charges brought against them."=20

But he said they did not deserve the death penalty.=20

Before the sentences, the US had warned that any judgement should = promote=20 reconciliation between the government and the opposition.=20

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the trial has been = closely=20 watched in the city, a CUD stronghold.=20

She says that the entire front row of seats in the court was taken up = by=20 diplomats and a simultaneous English translation was provided.=20

Apology?

Five of the 38, including CUD leader Hailu Shawel, were convicted of=20 inciting, organising and leading armed rebellion.=20

Among the 38 are the entire CUD leadership, several of the capital's = elected=20 MPs and city councillors, including Berhanu Negga, mayor-elect of Addis = Ababa.=20

Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations complaining of = fraud and=20 rigging in the elections won by Prime Minister Meles' party.=20

Some 193 people were killed in protests at alleged vote-rigging.=20

Most of the dead were protesters, killed by security forces.=20

Tarnished

An independent inquiry carried out by an Ethiopian judge concluded = that the=20 police had used excessive force.=20

He went on to accuse them of carrying out a massacre. The judge later = fled=20 Ethiopia, saying he had been put under pressure to change his findings = and had=20 received death threats.=20

The government points out that it introduced multiparty elections to = Ethiopia=20 after years of military rule.=20

In the elections, the opposition made huge gains but says it was = cheated out=20 of victory.=20

Three months ago, a judge threw out controversial charges of = attempted=20 genocide and treason against 111 people, including those sentenced on = Monday,=20 over the election protests.=20

The violence and the charges of election fraud have tarnished Mr = Meles' image=20 as a favourite of Western donors and one of a new wave of reforming = African=20 leaders.=20

Some donors have reduced aid over the case.