Two Germans acquitted of beating Ethiopian-born man

POTSDAM, Germany, June 15 (Reuters) Two Germans were acquitted today of assaulting an Ethiopian-born man in the eastern city of Potsdam last year in a case that triggered a debate in Germany about racism and integration. Ermyas Mulugeta, a German citizen, was beaten last April after he confronted two men for allegedly shouting racial abuse. The engineer and father-of-two sustained severe head injuries in the attack that sparked outrage in Germany.

The judge found there was insufficient evidence to convict the men, aged 30 and 32, who had denied the allegations.

During the trial, Mulugeta told the court he had no recollection of the attack. He was in a coma for several weeks but survived and was able to leave hospital after months of treatment.

Lawyers for the defendants said in their closing arguments that the case had become a political issue.

The attack raised concerns about security for dark-skinned foreigners in Germany during the soccer World Cup, which the country hosted last June and July, though the tournament passed off without major violence and was widely regarded as a success.

It also prompted scrutiny of the problem of racism and extremism in parts of the formerly communist east of Germany where far-right parties have gained ground in recent years.

Since German re-unification in 1990, about 100 people have been killed in outbreaks of far-right violence in the country, which has often been directed at dark-skinned foreigners living in the formerly communist eastern states.

REUTERS SLD KP1710