Addis Ababa: State-controlled media in Ethiopia on Monday reported the release of around 2,000 people arrested since the imposition of a state of emergency earlier this month.
The Fana Broadcasting Corporate said "about 2,000" prisoners, suspected of involvement in months of sometimes deadly anti-government protests, were released "after receiving education and counseling service".
Fana said defence minister Siraj Fegessa had made the announcement on Sunday but gave no information on the total number of people arrested in a series of security sweeps since a six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9.
Siraj said "more than 1,500 illegal weapons" had also been seized and called on the public to report any "unusual or suspicious activities" as authorities seek to end protests that represent the strongest challenge yet to the government's quarter-century rule.
