Saturday 22 January 2011

Pressure Ethiopia to free jailed Canadian, PM urged

Bashir Makhtal apears in this file photo
Bashir Makhtal apears in this file photo
Toronto Star

Joanna Smith Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA—Supporters of a Canadian man imprisoned for life in Ethiopia say it is time for the Prime Minister to become personally involved in his case. Bashir Makhtal, 42, was sent to Ethiopia four years ago, just a day before he was scheduled to appear before the Kenyan courts following his arrest after fleeing political instability in Mogadishu. New Democrat foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar noted Canada gives Ethiopia about $100 million in aid every year, granted Ethiopian Airlines landing rights at Pearson International Airport and invited Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as one of the three African observers at the G20 Summit in Toronto last June. Dewar wants Prime Minister Stephen Harper to use some of that leverage to pressure Ethiopia into releasing Makhtal Read More

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