Adam Melaku, head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, said that police were rounding up rights activists and members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy. “We are very scared,” he said.

The unrest coincided with warnings from the United Nations about the threat of a new war along the Ethiopian- Eritrean border, which both sides have recently reinforced with troops, armour and air defence missiles. They fought two inconclusive battles in 1998 and 2000, which cost millions of pounds and thousands of lives.

Western diplomats are concerned that Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister, may be tempted to be more bellicose to divert attention from his domestic problems. The behaviour of his Government has become a deep embarrassment for Tony Blair. This year he championed Mr Meles, a former Marxist rebel, as one of the “new breed” of African leaders worthy of much greater Western support. Mr Meles was appointed to Mr Blair’s Commission for Africa, which promotes aid to countries that practice good governance.

Yesterday the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats said that Britain should reconsider its annual £30 million “no strings attached” budget support for the regime.

“In view of the importance that was attached to good governance at the Gleneagles summit, it would be inconsistent if Britain were to go on making substantial payments direct to this Government when unacceptable behaviour is still going on,” said Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman. “The last thing we want is to find ourselves subsidising aggression.”

Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative spokesman for International Development, also questioned British aid.

“I am deeply disturbed by the recent violence in Addis and the reports of growing tension on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. As long ago as June I pointed out that Meles Zenawi was an extremely unsuitable mem- ber of Tony Blair’s Africa Commission, due to his questionable human rights record,” he said. “Britain gave Ethiopia £73 million in aid in 2003-04, of which £45 million was paid direct to the Ethiopian treasury. British aid should be used to reward and create incentives for good government. The Government must do all it can — including withholding aid if necessary — to prevent another bloody and pointless war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.”

In June Britain suspended a £20 million increase in aid after 36 students were shot dead in Addis Ababa, and Lord Triesman, Minister for Africa, has expressed his “concern and alarm” at the recent events there. “The use of lethal means, by security forces or by demonstrators, can play no part in a true democracy,” he said.

ZENAWI'S RISE

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