Addis Ababa — The Federal High Court found 38 opposition officials and three publishers guilty on Monday of charges relating to violent protests over disputed elections two years ago.

The officials are among 131 opposition leaders, journalists and civil society activists charged in December 2005 with treason, inciting violence and attempting to commit genocide.

They could face the death penalty when sentenced, which the court already adjourned for July 8, 2007.

A wave of arrests followed two separate outbreaks of violence in which nearly 200 people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces over the 2005 general election results, which the opposition says were rigged.

The Government, who however denied vote-rigging, has said the opposition incited the violence to overthrow his government.

Of 131 people first charged in that case, 45 have been acquitted and 36 are being tried in absentia.

In a separate case, it was reported that the Government has charged 55 members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy with trying to launch an armed rebellion.

In a related development, the Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed hearing against the former Ethiopian president, Mengistu Hailemariam who is in exile in Zimbabwe.

The court has resumed its hearing yesterday after the Federal prosecutors appealed to the Supreme Court against the verdict that was given six months ago in which Mengistu and other high ranking officials sentenced for life time imprisonment.

However, prosecutors appeal to the court saying that the lifetime imprisonment sentence was too weak compared to what the former president and his officials accused by the charges.

The federal prosecutors accused Mengistu and other officials of killing over 400,000 people during the "Red Terror" campaign against opposition citizens and University students late in the 1970s.

On Tuesday, 21 Former government ministers and military official were appeared before court.

However, the court adjourned until 3 July 2007 due to insufficient judges on the day.

The former leader was tried in his absence. He has been in exile in Zimbabwe since being ousted in 1991.

In a notorious campaign - known as the "Red Terror" - over 400,000 suspected opponents were rounded up and executed and their bodies tossed on the streets throughout the country.

Six months ago, the federal court gave its lifetime imprisonment sentence on 72 officials who were found guilty of genocide.

Thirty-four people were in court, 14 others have died during the lengthy process and 25, including Mengistu, were tried in absentia.

The court also found them guilty of imprisonment, illegal homicide and illegal confiscation of property.

Zimbabwe has so far refused requests to extradite Mengistu to Ethiopia.