January 22, 2006 (Reuters) - A British journalist ordered to leave Ethiopia
within 24 hours after the government accused him of portraying the Horn
of Africa country in a bad light left for Kenya on Sunday, officials
said.
Immigration sources in the capital Addis Ababa said Anthony Mitchell had
flown to Nairobi. The Associated Press (AP) news agency, which employs
him, confirmed Mitchell had left Ethiopia.
"Mitchell complied with a government order to leave the country today,"
AP Managing Editor Mike Silverman said in a statement. "We hope he will
be allowed to return to Addis Ababa soon so that he can be with his
family and return to his duties.
"The AP stands behind Mitchell, who is an aggressive and fair
journalist, and has worked in Ethiopia for AP for more than five years,"
Silverman added.
Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry summoned Mitchell on Saturday and expelled
him, accusing him of "disseminating information tarnishing the image of
the country despite repeated advice not to do so". No further details
were given.
Once hailed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton as "part of a new
generation of leaders" for Africa, and a key member of Prime Minister
Tony Blair's Africa Commission in 2005, the democratic credentials of
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have suffered in the last year.
A disputed May election sparked bloody protests and a security crackdown
in which more than 80 people were killed. Top opposition leaders and
journalists have been arrested on treason charges.
Britain said on Wednesday it would stop budget support worth at least 50
million pounds to Ethiopia because of concerns over governance and human
rights.
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