Ethiopia releases jailed journalists, bloggers

Source: AP

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — A media rights organization says Ethiopia has released three journalists and three bloggers more than a year after they were arrested and charged with incitement and terrorism in a country known for media oppression.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it welcomed the journalists' release on Wednesday. The group said the journalists and bloggers were arrested in late April 2014. Their release comes ahead of President Barack Obama's visit later this month to Ethiopia, the first ever by a sitting U.S. president. Obama has been criticized for planning to visit Ethiopia because of its poor record in upholding human and democratic rights.

Ethiopia is ranked fourth on list of the 10 most censored countries also the second-worst jailer of journalists in Africa, after Eritrea, according to the press watchdog.

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