Britain shelved a planned $55 million increase in aid for Ethiopia owing to the African country?s ongoing political turmoil. U.K. International Development Secretary Hilary Benn told in a news conference in Addis Ababa that "it is sensible to hold on to [the additional budget support] to see how the situation develops." Police forces have so far killed 36 people and arrested 3,000 others, who demonstrated against the government?s alleged manipulation of the May 15 parliamentary elections. Benn urged the Ethiopian government to allow the Red Cross to attend to those who had been detained as well as to make a decision on who should be released or remain in the state?s custody. (Sources: UK Suspends Hike In Aid To Ethiopia Over Political Unrest/The Associated Press; Britain suspends Ethiopia aid rise over unrest/Reuters)
