NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ethiopian government has arrested 35 people suspected of a coup attempt allegedly backed by an Ethiopian economist now teaching at a Pennsylvania university, a government spokesman said Saturday.
Government spokesman Ermias Legesse said the group, which calls itself "May 15” after the date of controversial 2005 elections in Ethiopia, was led from the U.S. by former opposition leader Berhanu Nega, who is an associate professor of economics at Bucknell University.
"It is the party led by Berhanu Nega,” Ermias said. "If he comes to Ethiopia, we’ll arrest him.”
He said the alleged plotters were arrested Friday.
"They were caught with weapons, uniforms, even plans,” Ermias said. "I don’t want to give details about the plans; it’s for the court case.”
Ermias said the charges have not been set and court proceedings will begin soon.
by the associated press
