Heather Murdock (Global Mail)

Bereket Simon, Ethiopia’s communication affairs minister, confirmed the expulsion, saying in a phone interview Murdock “was searching for ONLF people.”

Murdock said from Cairo she “didn’t know talking to people was a crime in Ethiopia.”

Ethiopia’s foreign ministry accused VOA of attempting to undermine the country’s May 23 elections and of “rooting for violence,” according to an e-mailed statement yesterday.

Ethiopia, where virtually all domestic radio broadcasters are controlled by the government or Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling party, has jammed VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia since March. Last year, it jailed an Ethiopian reporter for VOA for two weeks on tax charges before releasing him.