Ethiopia on Tuesday granted a pardon to 10 former leaders and members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD),saying that they confirmed they would "respect the constitution and protect it from any unlawful act."
The defendants said they "took responsibility individually and collectively for their mutinous move against the constitutional order," said a statement from the Ministry of Justice.
The defendants "requested clemency from the people and the government of Ethiopia,"
said the statement.
It said the Ethiopian Pardon Board examined the request of the defendants thoroughly
and considered the preconditions go well along with the rule of law.
The board presented a recommendation to the president based on the request of the 10 former leaders and members of CUD, it added.
The former leaders and members of CUD were imprisoned after the court passed verdict that they are found guilty of dismantling the national constitution through force,according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the statement said the recommendation presented to the president to lift a
pardon earlier granted to four former CUD leaders and members.
It said the defendants "committed repeated crime and failed to respect their own preconditions when they requested clemency."
"They are found guilty of dismantling the national constitution through force with their
cliques," the statement said.