The conviction of 39 Ethiopian opposition leaders earlier this week in connection with election violence has been widely condemned by human rights activists.
The leaders, charged with "instigating and organising rebellion against the government" and "outrages against the constitutional order", are to be sentenced on July 8.
Those convicted on Monday include three leaders of the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. Hailu Shawel, the chairman of the party, is among them.
All 39 face either a death sentence or life imprisonment.
The federal high court trial began in December 2005 following post-election violence that erupted during protests over polls six months earlier.
The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats, but Meles Zenawi, the prime minister, held on to power. The opposition claimed the vote was rigged, and EU observers said the polls were marred by irregularities.
The trial has been widely condemned by international human rights groups as an attempt to silence Ethiopian government critics. The opposition leaders have claimed the trial is politically motivated.
The US has also condemned the convictions.
Sean McCormack, US state deparment spokesman, said: "Well, we're quite surprised, first of all, by the action that was taken by the government and very, very concerned."
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