The Ethiopian News Week in Review at Ezega.com

PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 07, 2009 – The most viewed news post at Ezega.com this week was entitled “So, how much are hotels in Addis asking for AU Summit?” This post lists the asking prices for rooms and suites at various hotels in Addis Ababa for the AU summit held February 1-4, 2009. Topping the list as the most expensive rooms and suites were: Executive Suite at Sheraton for US$6,460 per night; Junior Suite at Sheraton for US$1075 a night; Double Room at Yoli for US$1115 a night; Suite at Imperial Hotel for US$1054 per night; and Semi-Suite at Axum Hotel for US$867 per night.

In other leading news, a U.S. diplomat was killed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, State Department officials said on Thursday. The 25-year-old diplomat, Brian Adkins, was found dead in his home in Addis Ababa, officials said. "The death is under investigation and we are coordinating closely with the government of Ethiopia," said a State Department official, who asked not to be named as the department had not officially released details of the death. Another official said it was a suspected homicide and that the U.S. diplomatic security was looking into the incident. Adkins was a Foreign Service officer who worked in the consular section of the embassy. A graduate of George Washington University in Washington, Ethiopia was his first foreign assignment for the State Department.

Another story that received some attention was the release from jail of a leading Ethiopian opposition politician on Wednesday after he was jailed last November after the government accused him of working with rebels, his party said. Bekele Jirate, 54, a top official with the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), was accused by the authorities of working "hand-in-glove" with insurgents like the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). "I am very happy because not only is he important for our party, but he is innocent," OFDM leader Bulcha Demeksa told Reuters. He said no date had been set for Bekele's trial. The OFDM said another leading opposition politician remains in solitary confinement. Bulcha also called for the immediate release of Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge who heads the newly created opposition party, Unity for Democracy and Justice party.

At Ezega Jobs, several new jobs were posted. Vacancy ads that received the most views were “Programme Coordinator” posted by SAVE THE CHILDREN NORWAY; “Management Information System Administrator” posted by The Construction Design S.Co; “Project Coordinator” posted by Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development - ECDD; “Administrative Assistant” posted by AL Nile Business Group PLC; and “Secretary” posted by Kebran General Business Plc. For more information on these and other jobs in Ethiopia, please visit http://www.Ezega.com/Jobs/index.aspx.

At Ezega Real Estate, many new properties were also posted for sale and rent. The most viewed properties include “5BR, 5Bath, 600m2 Lot House for sale” in Bole, Addis Ababa, for 12,000,000 ETB; “3BR, 2Bath House for sale“ in CMC, Addis Ababa for 760,000 ETB; and “2BR, 2Bath House for sale” in Gurd Shola, Addis Ababa, for 750,000 ETB; “School on 1000m2 plot” in CMC, Addis Ababa for 12,000,000 ETB; and “1BR, 1Bath Service Quarter for rent” in Ayat, Addis Ababa for 3,000 ETB. For more information on these and other homes and properties for sale in Ethiopia, please visit http://www.Ezega.com/RealEstate/Index.aspx.

For more news and information about Ethiopia, please visit Ezega.com at http://www.Ezega.com.