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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 16 February 2022
Ethiopia lifts state of emergency early, citing calming war

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — ed that some members of
Lawmakers in Ethiopia the advisory committee
voted Tuesday to end raised concerns regarding
the country's three-month threats posed by the Tigray
state of emergency early Peoples Liberation Front
as mediation efforts to end and the Oromo Liberation
a deadly war in the north Army, which have been
continue. fighting the federal army
The vote took place after and its allies.
Ethiopia's Council of Minis- The parliament speaker
ters, chaired by Prime Min- said a new "corrective
ister Abiy Ahmed, decided measure" is being put in
on Jan. 26 to end the state place to deal with security
of emergency originally im- threats in the Amhara, Afar,
posed for six months, citing Benishangul Gumuz and
recent developments in Gambella regions and the
the conflict. Wellega area in the Oro-
The state of emergency mia region.
was imposed in early No- Ethiopia's war erupted in
vember as Tigray region November 2020 and is be-
forces fighting Ethiopian lieved to have caused the
and allied forces moved deaths of tens of thou-
closer to the capital, Addis sands of people and the
Ababa. The Tigray fighters displacement of millions.
withdrew back into their Pedestrians walk along a street in downtown Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. Though the war has sub-
region in late December Associated Press sided in several places, no-
amid mediation efforts tably within the Tigray and
and under pressure from a gency would be released. lar judicial process." jarric told reporters. Amhara regions, concerns
drone-supported military They include a freelance The United Nations secre- Ahead of Tuesday's vote, remain in the northeastern
offensive carried out by the video journalist accredited tary-general encouraged an advisory committee Afar region.
government. to The Associated Press, Ethiopian authorities to within the Ethiopian parlia- Aid remains for millions in
Thousands of mainly ethnic Amir Aman Kiyaro. "take further measures to ment said the lifting of the the Tigray region remains
Tigrayans were detained The state-affiliated Fana ensure the decision is fol- state of emergency would severely limited under what
under the state of emer- Broadcasting reported: lowed up by the release help revive the country's the U.N. has described as
gency, according to wit- "The state of emergency of those remaining people economic and diplomatic a "de facto humanitarian
nesses, lawyers and human investigation board is in- that are in detention as a situation. Parliament speak- blockade." On Monday,
rights groups. Many were structed to finish any out- result of the state of emer- er Tagesse Chafo said the the World Health Organiza-
released after December's standing works within a gency, or for the reasons of committee believes the tion said it has been grant-
shift in the war. month and report back to their detention to be regu- country's security threats ed access to send medical
There was no immediate the relevant body. Judicial larly reviewed at least by a can now be dealt with by supplies to Tigray for the first
word Tuesday on when the bodies are also instructed court and other indepen- regular law enforcement time in six months, but fuel
rest of the people detained to finish emergency law-re- dent impartial judiciary," mechanisms. shortages are hampering
under the state of emer- lated cases within the regu- spokesman Stephane Du- Fana Broadcasting report- distribution.q

Pakistan letting India deliver wheat to hungry Afghanistan

Afghanistan will be allowed to pass through its territory status. Since then, normal
to collect wheat from India en route to Afghanistan, diplomatic and trade ties
by way of Pakistan's Wagha but New Delhi could not between them have not
border near the city of La- finalize modalities until last resumed.
hore, beginning Feb. 21. week, said the officials. Pakistan now says it is al-
The trucks filled with wheat Pakistan and India have lowing India to deliver food
will then head back to Af- a history of bitter relations. to Kabul through its territory
ghanistan's Jalalabad city Ties between them were under a special arrange-
via Pakistan's Torkham bor- further strained after dead- ment.
der the next day, the offi- ly attacks in India's section Afghanistan's economy is
cials said. of the disputed territory of teetering on the brink of
They spoke on the condi- Kashmir three years ago. collapse in the wake of the
tion of anonymity because More than 40 Indian sol- Taliban takeover in August.
they were not authorized diers were killed. New Delhi Also on Monday, Pakistani
to speak to media on the blamed Pakistan-based Prime Minister Imran Khan
Pakistan laborers unload sacks of onion imported from neigh-
boring India at Pakistani border Wagah near Lahore Pakistan, record. militants for the attack in in a meeting with visiting
on May 14, 2013. The arrangement comes Indian-controlled Kashmir, Iranian Interior Minister Ah-
Associated Press more than three months a charge Pakistan denied, mad Vahidi stressed the
after India announced it demanding evidence. need for urgent action by
By MUNIR AHMED gling through intensifying would deliver 50,000 metric Pakistan suspended trade the international commu-
Associated Press food shortages, two For- tons of wheat and life-sav- with India in 2019 after nity "to prevent a humani-
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Paki- eign Ministry officials said ing medicine to Afghani- New Delhi stripped the tarian crisis and economic
stan is allowing nuclear Monday. stan. Indian-controlled section meltdown in Afghanistan,"
rival India to deliver tons Under a deal with New Pakistan said at the time it of Kashmir of its statehood according to a govern-
of wheat to Afghans strug- Delhi, dozens of trucks from would allow the Indian aid and special constitutional ment statement.q