BRITAIN yesterday suspended a planned £30 million increase in aid to finance Ethiopia's budget because of political unrest.

The unrest took a violent turn in the capital, Addis Ababa, last week when police killed 36 people during protests that followed complaints about the conduct of last month's elections.

The prime minister, Meles Zenawi, was committed to investigating last week's clashes and making the findings public, Britain's International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn, said after meeting the Ethiopian leader.

"I am putting on hold the planned increase in direct budget support, which we were looking at, which was £30 million. In my view, it is sensible to hold on to that to see how the situation develops," he added.

Mr Benn said that his decision would not affect the £60 million that Britain has already given Ethiopia to fund its budget.