In an appearance on VOA's Straight Talk Africa program, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer made the following comments about jailed Ethiopian opposition leaders: "We think that it's important for Prime Minister Meles (Zenawi) to release many of the people who are in jail, certainly to bring their trials to a very speedy conclusion, give them, as you say, due process of the law, give them an opportunity to have a case in jail. And for those who, ah, so there isn't a substantial case to be made, allow them to leave, ah, so certainly we've been putting pressure, our chargé there, Vicki Huddleston, has been in constant dialogue with Prime Minister Meles and members of the opposition ... Members of our embassy have had the opportunity to meet with the families of those who are detained as well. So yes, indeed we are putting pressure and we think it's important for the prime minister to allow, to release those who are detained."
