...None of the accused answered questions, saying the trial was political. Some wore black t-shirts and put their hands over their mouths when asked to plead....One of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders, Bertukan Medeksa, a former judge, said the court was controlled by Mr Meles, who had already found them guilty.
Some diplomats told the BBC they feared that the trial could drag on for a long time.
Key Ethiopia treason trial starts (BBC) 23 February, 2006
