Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Wednesday that those arrested opposition leaders will be charged with treason.

"The CUD (Coalition for Unity and Democracy) leaders are engaged in insurrection -- that is an act of treason under Ethiopian law. They will be charged and they will appear in court, " Meles said.

The Ethiopian prime minister told foreign journalists that if they were found guilty, the court would decide whether they would face the death penalty or serve a prison term.

"The violence has marred the image of Ethiopia, but as far as the process of democratization is concerned I don't think it has had an impact on the country," he said.

In Addis Ababa and some other cities last week, clashes between police and CUD supporters left at least 46 people dead. The government has blamed CUD for the violence, saying that CUD leaders would be prosecuted.

Source: Xinhua