Ethiopia frees opposition leaders from prison, announces political dialogue

Jawar Mohammed (L), an Oromo activist and a media mogul arrives at the Lideta First Instance Court with Bekele Gerba, an Oromo Congress Federalist Party deputy President, for their court hearing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [Reuters]

Ethiopia has freed several opposition leaders from prison, the state broadcaster reported on Friday, as the government said it would begin dialogue with political opponents after 14 months of war when thousands of people have been arrested.

The move to free leaders from several ethnic groups is the most significant breakthrough since war broke out in the northern Tigray region, threatening the unity of Africa's second-most populous state.