Swedish journalists face 'terrorism' accusation in Ethiopia


An Ethiopian court has remanded in custody two Swedish journalists arrested after accompanying rebels opposed to the government in Ethiopia, Sweden's foreign ministry said Thursday.
Photographer Johan Persson and reporter Martin Schibbye, both freelancers, faced "a proceeding" on July 6 in the eastern city of Jijiga, foreign ministry spokesman Kent Oeberg told AFP.
The Swedes have since been transferred to the capital Addis Abeba and will appear in court again on July 19 or 20, he added.
Swedish diplomats have met with the duo on two occasions, the last time at the end of last week in the capital, Oeberg said.
"They have been treated well and are doing well considering the circumstances," he said.
Ethiopian police arrested Persson and Schibbye in Jijiga on July 1 after they had entered the region through Somalia with members of the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which is opposed to the Ethiopian government.
They were travelling with ONLF rebels when fighting broke out with Ethiopian troops in which 15 rebels were killed and six people injured including the journalists, who suffered gunshot wounds.
An Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman initially said they would face trial for the "terrorist activities" they were planning but later retracted his statement and told AFP the pair were being investigated but had yet to be charged.
Last Updated (Thursday, 14 July 2011 16:49)