(Ottawa.  August 02,  2009 Ceegaag Online) 

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon says Canada will seek clemency if a Canadian businessman is sentenced to death Monday in Ethiopia after being found guilty last week on terror-related charges.

Bashir Makhtal, 40, of Toronto, was found guilty of being a senior member of the Ogaden National Liberation Front, a group Ethiopia regards as a terrorist organization. Canada does not consider it a terror group.

He was also found guilty of inciting rebellion and supporting Somalia’s Islamist movement, which came into conflict with Ethiopia after it invaded the neighbouring country in 2006.

“The government of Canada has sought assurances from the government of Ethiopia that the death penalty will not be applied in this case,” Cannon said in a release. “We will seek clemency for Mr. Makhtal if the death penalty is imposed.”

Makhtal was arrested in Kenya in December 2006 and a month later was illegally flown to Ethiopia. Once in Ethiopia, he was kept incommunicado and in solitary confinement for almost two years. He was not allowed to see a Canadian embassy official for 16 months.

“Consular officials have visited Mr. Makhtal as recently as July 28; his case remains a priority for the government of Canada,” the release from Cannon said.

Makhtal, a former Toronto computer programmer, was operating a trading business in the Horn of Africa at the time of his arrest. He has denied all allegations against him.

Makhtal is to be sentenced Monday by Ethiopia’s high court.

Ottawa Citizen

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