Ethiopia's prime minister yesterday defied pressure to release opposition leaders detained after politically motivated violence in Addis Ababa that killed more than 80 people.

Human rights activists and donors, which are withholding direct budgetary support worth about $375m, have condemned the government for its heavy-handed reaction to riots in June and November. After the November clashes thousands were rounded up and dozens of opposition leaders, as well as human rights activists and journalists, were charged with treason and genocide.