World Bulletin / News Desk

Ethiopian leader Hailemariam Desalegn has defended the arrest of opposition leader Andargachew Tsege who was extradited from Yemen last month, calling it a 'moral obligation'.

"Andargachew Tsege is a Trojan horse for the Eritrean government to destabilise this country," he told the BBC.

Tsege, who is also a UK national, was sentenced to death in absetia back in 2009 while in exile for allegedly plotting a coup against the Ethiopian government with his banned Ginbot 7 movement.

"His stooges were there, who were sent to destabilise and bomb this country - they were captured red-handed with their bombs and their detonating elements," President Desalegn told the BBC's Focus on Africa.

Saying he was not sure if the death penalty would be carried out now that Andargachew was in custody, he added "If you ask me to tolerate in the name of democracy those who are engaging [in] destabilising the country and acting as a terrorist and using guns to change government, then you are wrong."

"If you have any connection with terrorists don't think that the Ethiopian government will let you [go] free," he said.

Ginbot 7 (15 May) was named after the date of the 2005 elections, which were marred by protests over alleged fraud that led to the deaths of about 200 people.

Tsege, second-in-command of Ginbot 7 opposition movement, was arrested last month at Sanaa international airport while on his way to Eritrea.