I thought it was because of my misunderstanding of my fourth language (English) that did not help me know what Mr.Benn meant. What a sense of relief to see that you whose first language is English, is as confused.

So if Meles wants, he can just reallocate 80 million of his own money away from health, education and water - and Walla! you got your direct budget support again. On the net the British come out looking like they actually did something with out doing anything?!

I wonder why they don't use something more sophisticated to actually look like doing something...for example give the money to another agent/ or aid group and that aid group aids the government with the entire amount after a while? At least it would take us a few months to figure it all out.

The 'complete reversal' by the British was too good to be true - "breach of trust" wasn't that what he said? According to the Mr. Benn and his Government, it is the hype that matters most!

Are you in langano..or somewhere in sheraton...what a bloger...enjoy the peace in EThiopia. there are some people dead...in Ethiopia (who cares)........forget about them..tell us how you enjoyed Timket......
Hey after all Ethiopia is better than iraq...there is stablity and still a night life at Hilton or memo..there are girls...and plenty of fun..

Just ignore the reality and the strugle for democracy..no report on the killings of course you have to be at peace with the tyrant to maintain your visa status...

If what happened today in Adiss had happened in England or london it will be the news that you cant afford to ignore but.....Ethiopians they are stupid .....ha ha ha.

Enjoy the risk free jounalism.

It is good news that Mr. Hilary Benn's decision to continue to help Ethiopia. There is no better time for the UK to uphold it's principle to help the poor.

Of course there are a few vetrolic Ethiopian diaspora on " Adverntures in wonderland"

One can be sure that democracy is subject to critics and Ethiopian Democracy is open wide to critics.

Some diaspora who one time or another had been privilaged by derg are of course expected to shout from their tower.But I say to them Ethiopians want privilage for none, but equality for all.

I believe a few CUD diaspora who continue to spread envy and hatred should not be allowed to suppress the wishes of millions of Ethiopians.

I urge Mr.H Benn to uphold his promise to help the poor. In the mean time Ethiopian democracy is like mastard Seed - the seed is planted.

Ethiopian, what? Abesha, are you sure? God help you!

Good God. Some people expect others to write only what they want to read. People, get over it. If you are bitter about a certain issue, it does not mean that all other 70 Million inhabitants of Ethiopia are also as bitter.

That is what really should an accountable western nation should do. Primarily the aid that the Uk gives is meant for the poor people and the poor people of Ethiopia did nothing with respect to the current crisis. So why should the poor be punished by the zeolous act of the CUD and the likes in the diaspora. Thank you andrews. We are finding the traits that we are unable to find in many Ethiopians.. Be on your belief. And write what everthing you like to, because you are Andrew not Dagmawi..

Good that UK will give the money to the poor. But Meles will take the money and give it for Tigreans. Other Ethiopians are secondary citizens. All the positive remarks in this page come from Tigreans who reap the fruit of minority domination.

UK should have channeled the money to NGOS which are dictributed in different parts of Ethiopia.

I don't want to interfer in your job, but it smells it has the hand of Meles and Co. Time will judge you one day. Meles isn't there for ever. Sooner or later we will be freed from this killer. Sooner or later we will have the say in our destiny.

UK take the money and give it to NGOS not to Meles projects.

We do understand what the British go through. The problem is when they went to bed with tyrants in the first place - proclaiming tyrants of Africa as ‘progressive’ leaders. They knew what the tyrants were doing to their own people for the last 15 years albeit away from international media. Now all of a sudden the tyrant has so much confidence he has started the killings right under their noses. They have to appear to be doing something (in reality say something) for the international media. The irony is the more they say/do something the more they expose their true colors when it comes to their core belief about Africans freedom.

The good about all this is that Ethiopians are fast learning that their freedom will only be the outcome of their own struggle. The Americans and the British are there for their own interest, we just have to stand tall for our own that is defined by us. An excellent lesson for a nation of people worth much more than the British $88 million.

No country in the world has ever come out of poverty through charity and Ethiopia is no exception. The only way for us to come out of this misery is when we the people are in charge of our destiny. The struggle is underway and as always the people will win. In the process, the big confusion of friends and foe is clearing!

I am afraid the British are more interested in saving the life of one Whale instead of the thousands that are suffering under the Meles Government. They are "Africans after all" really sad.

Keep it up anyway Addisfernji. ! We appreciate.

Dear Mr Meles

Please find enclosed cheque for 50 million pounds. We would appreciate it if you didn't spend it on shooting your own people or pointless border wars. Regardless, we will send you another cheque in April as we have to get rid of the cash somehow.

Diverting the funds through other agencies or NGO's would require monitoring and is too much like hard work. We can't not give Ethiopia the money as we would feel terribly guilty about all those poor people and it would upset our Aid figures anyway.

So don't worry too much you will still get your new laptop in the spring and you can buy some more of those nice new riot trucks. Just say they are agricultural equipment,paint them yellow and stick some mud on the wheels, (no one will notice we used to do the same with millitary equipment for Saddam). TB says hi by the way.

Yours

Hillary

What!
I'm so confused with the statment of the Foriegn secretary for Aid of the UK government. In the beigning,I was tthrilled that the strong ally of the tyrant EPRDF government,UK, has admitted the countless pain of the Ethiopian People. But it sounds like was tricky to please the ethiopian public for nothing!
History will confront you at the end if you fail to understand the sufferings and cries of the Ethiopian people.

Please, don't ignore the human right abuses for the sake of your intersets and make the decision impact the brutual government.

Ezera Ze A.A