The Federal Police announced that it has released 2,417of the detainees who were arrested for alleged involvement at various levels in the riot and violence that recently erupted in Addis Ababa following investigations.

In a statement it sent to ENA yesterday, the Federal Police said the detainees were freed for they were not found to be direct actors in the violence.

The statement said 1,779 detainees were released from the Addis Ababa Prison in three rounds. Some 285 and 353 detainees were also released from Zeway and Dedesa prisons respectvely.

The Federal Police said it has been exerting utmost efforts to complete its investigation and bring the remaining suspects to justice and also urged the public to continue with its cooperation with the Police in providing evidences.

Meanwhile, police say the Kalashnikov rifle that was snatched from a Police member amidst the recent violence in Addis Ababa has been recovered through public tip, while one of the culprits that set on fire a vehicle belonging to the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation was arrested.

The Kalashnikov that was snatched from a police member around what is locally known as Kaza-Inchiz Total in Kirkos sub-City on November 1st has been recovered through public tip in the presence of local Kebele officials and elders, according to police.

Head of Crime Investigation with the Kirkos sub-City, Inspector Kumara Rege'a told journalists that the Kalashnikov was found from where it was hidden in the premises of a certain residential house around Kaza-Inchiz through public tip.

The Kalashnikov was snatched from one of the policemen on duty around Kaza-Inchiz on November 1st after he was hit by a stone from behind, Inspector Kumara said.

Inspector Kumara said though the Kalashnikov was loaded with 30 rounds in its cartridge when it was snatched from the police member, it was found without the cartridge.

Inspector Kumara said though there was a sound of gunfire at the time of the violence around the area, it was too early to say that any crime has been committed using the Kalashnikov.

However, the inspector said, the fact that the cartridge has not been found in someway indicate that crime might have been committed by the rifle, and added that the matter would be established through technical investigation.

The person who has snatched the Kalashnikov from the police is still at large, the inspector said, and urged the public to stand on the side of the police in the effort to find the culprits.

Meanwhile, police have also arrested the person responsible for setting on fire a vehicle belonging to the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation in Kolfe Keranio Sub-City.

	Copyright © 2005 The Ethiopian Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).