[JURIST] The Ethiopian government on Thursday released 2,417 prisoners held without charge in connection with a violent confrontation with police that left 42 people dead last week. The riot occured during a protest against alleged ballot fraud said to have been orchestrated by the Coalition for Unity and Democracy [official website], Ethiopia's largest opposition party. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi [BBC News profile] announced [JURIST report] Wednesday that opposition party leaders and journalists who are alleged to have incited the riots would face charges of treason. Last June, the Ethiopian government arrested over 3,000 people [JURIST report] in connection with an election result protest that left 36 dead. Most protestors were later released [JURIST report]. Reuters has more