Ethiopia's Mengistu to be sentenced on Jan 11

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 28 (Reuters) An Ethiopian court will sentence former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in absentia on January 11 after a judge said today he needed more time to consider appeals by both sides in Mengistu's genocide trial.

Mengistu, who is in exile in Zimbabwe, was convicted of genocide earlier this month for the killings of thousands of political opponents during a 17-year rule that ended with his overthrow in 1991.

Judge Medhin Kiros said the court would deliver its sentence on January 11, ''after considering extenuating statements by the accused and the prosecution's argument for a stiffer penalty''.

Mengistu was jointly accused with 71 others including former prime minister Fikre Selassie Wogderesse, former vice-president Fissiha Desta and other leaders of his former military junta.

REUTERS PDM PM1605