Dr. Begashaw appeared before court on May 8 but was sent back to Maekelawi Prison as hearing was adjourned for May 15, 2006. Observers connect Dr. Begashaw's arrest to being critical of Aba Paulos, who is widely condemned in Ethiopia as being an accomplice of the ruthless tyrant, Meles Zenawi.

Ethiopians gather around a minibus which was damaged after a bomb blast in Addis Ababa, Monday, March 27, 2006. Four bombs exploded in Ethiopia's capital Monday, killing at least one person and wounding scores of others. (AP Photo/Leslie Neuhau)

In another development, a loud explosion rocked the Ethiopian capital Tuesday, nearly six weeks after four bombs exploded in Addis Ababa, killing one person and wounding scores of others, a little-known EiTB news agency reported on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Ethiopia's federal police confirmed Tuesday's explosion, but did not provide details on its nature and whether there were any casualties.

Police have blamed a series of small bombings in recent months on militant elements opposed to the government.

According to EthioMedia, however, the public often implicates the regime in blow-up terror activities designed to incriminate and later destroy rival political groups.