European Union ambassadors pulled out of Eritrea in...

European Union ambassadors pulled out of Eritrea in protest at a crackdown on political dissent and a free press in that country.
In September, 11 former cabinet ministers and other senior politicians - who were among the most prominent critics of President Isaias Afwerki within the ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice - were detained.
The government's spokesman, Yemane Gebremeskel, said that those arrested were guilty of 'endangering the country', and hinted that the men might be charged with treason, which carries the death penalty.
Dozens of other people who are believed to sympathise with the critics were also detained. The government shut down the free press and detained at least eight journalists.
The editor of the Meqahil newspaper, Mathewos Habeab, was arrested, released ahead of a visit by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, and then detained again when the committee's delegation left Eritrea.
Other journalists have disappeared or been conscripted into the military. The government claims that some journalists were arrested for failing to report for military service, even though a number of those detained are exempt because they fought in the liberation war or are too old.
EU states said they would withdraw their ambassadors from the capital, Asmara, for consultations in protest at the sharp deterioration in human rights.
Earlier in October, Eritrea expelled the Italian ambassador after he delivered a letter to the government on behalf of the EU protesting at the crackdown on critics. Italy responded by throwing out Eritrea's envoy.