Ethiopians residing in the Washington DC area held a protest rally in front of the State Department today demanding freedom for political prisoners, including Teddy Afro, Birtukan Mideksa, Bekele Jirata and thousands of others who are languishing in Woyanne jails.

Similar protests were held in several other cities around the world.

Addis Dimts Radio reports that some 500 Ethiopians participated in today’s Washington DC rally. Representatives of the protesters briefly met with a State Department official during the rally and handed him a prepared statement.

[Photo: Addis Dimts]

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) returns, and asks about intelligence warnings of Al Qaeda movement into the chaos of Somalia. “What’s your view on what’s gone wrong on that?”

Clinton: “Somalia is strategically located … the idea that Somalia is just a failed state, somewhere over there, where people are just fighting over Heaven knows what is one that we adopt at our peril. I don’t know the most effective way forward,” she concedes. “Now we have the added ingredient of Al Qaeda and terrorists looking to take advantage of chaos and failure of Somalia.” She declines to take up Feingold’s invitation to bash President George W. Bush’s eager embrace of the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia two years ago, saying merely that “there’s a lot of history here.” But she tells Feingold, who apparently has a fair amount of expertise on Somalia, “we’re going to seek your advice.” More on CLINTON CONFIRMATION: Somalia

There have been celebrations in the Somalia capital Mogadishu after Ethiopian Woyanne troops withdrew from their two main bases in the city.

People are returning to homes evacuated after the Ethiopians intervened two years ago to oust Islamist forces. More on Somali joy as Woyannes withdraw

MOGADISHU, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Ethiopian troops supporting Somalia’s Western-backed government quit their main bases in Mogadishu on Tuesday, witnesses said, heralding the start of an uncertain new chapter for the anarchic capital.

Many residents were overjoyed by the departure of soldiers they saw as occupiers, even though some analysts fear it will leave a power vacuum and trigger more violence by Islamist rebels who have been battling the government and each other. More on Woyanne troops quit main bases in Mogadishu

The United States is circulating a draft Security Council resolution that would call for a U.N. peacekeeping force in Somalia.

The Associated Press says the draft would renew the mandate of African Union peacekeepers currently in Somalia, but eventually replace them with a stronger international force. The draft calls for a council decision by June first. More on US Circulating Resolution for Somalia UN Force

NAIROBI, Kenya — The window of opportunity that was created by the recent resignation of Somalia’s widely reviled president seems to be closing quickly, with Somali politicians bickering over how to replace him and violence now raging on several fronts. More on Officials Still Arguing Over Leader for Somalia

A leading Ethiopian opposition politician, who was imprisoned for life last month after a dispute with the government, has ended a hunger strike and told relatives she wants to begin legal proceedings to win her freedom.  More on Ethiopia’s Top Opposition Politician Ends Prison Hunger Strike

EPPF Press release regarding political prisoners in Ethiopia.

International Protest Flier

Efforts to promote democracy, good governance and human rights in Ethiopia may be jeopardized by a new law enacted this week by Ethiopia’s parliament. US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood says the so-called Charities and Societies Proclamation (NGO law) will restrict US government aid, and Human Rights Watch calls the act a direct rebuke to non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and to countries that assist Ethiopia. More on Ethiopia Restricts Rights Defenders, Civil Society Groups,and Foreign Funded NGO’s