Ethiopia frees 2,252 held during election protests

Ethiopia's police have released without charge 2,252 people who were detained during a crackdown on protesters against the disputed results of last year's elections, a state-run newspaper reported Saturday.

International donors have announced they will withdraw US$375 million (A311 million) in aid to the Ethiopian government following the crackdown. The money will be reallocated the U.N. and aid agencies working to combat poverty among the bulk of Ethiopia's estimated 77 million people who live on less than a dollar (euro) a day.

Full story Associated Press 14 January 2006.