ADDIS ABABA (Reuters):

An Ethiopian court sentenced 35 opposition members to life in prison yesterday, rebuffing a prosecution request that they be executed for trying to overthrow the government, treason and inciting violence.

The remaining eight defendants, including four journalists, were ordered to serve terms of between 18 months and 18 years in a case rights groups and some donor governments criticised as an attempt to cripple the opposition after it made election gains.

"The accused have committed serious crimes, which caused the death of civilians and security forces and attempted to overthrow the government," Judge Adil Ahmed told the court.

Many of the defendants, calling the case a politically motivated charade, had refused to present a defence despite court orders to do so.

Thirty-eight defendants were in court while the rest were tried in absentia. Relatives and defendants wept while others held their head in their hands in apparent shock.

The defendants, among them leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), were convicted last month on charges relating to violent protests over 2005 polls the opposition says were rigged.

CUD Chairman Hailu Shawel, Addis Ababa mayor-elect Berhanu Nega and opposition members elected to parliament were also among those sentenced.

Adil said they had the right to appeal, but it was not immediately clear whether they would.

Ethiopian state television said the CUD defendants who were sentenced to death had appealed for mercy in a letter to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It said the letter was received three weeks ago by Meles' office, which decided not to reveal the contents until a final court decision.