Tamirat Layne

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Tamirat Layne (born 1955) is an Ethiopian politician. During the 1980s, he was an important figure in the fight against Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam.

When Mengistu was overthrown in 1991, Layne became one of the three man EPRDF/TPLF junta ruling the country and then in the democratically elected government; the other members being Meles Zenawi (President) and Siye Abraha (Minister of Defence). His position was Prime Minister, in which capacity he served from June 6, 1991 until August 22, 1995 when President Meles Zenawi succeeded him as Prime Minister. Layne became deputy prime minister until October 1996, when he was sacked from both positions. Zenawi claimed that Layne had fallen prey to the comfort of city life.

In 1997 Layne was arrested on corruption charges. He later complained that the conditions of his imprisonment were inhumane. In 2000 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The charges against him included embezzlement, illegally exporting textiles and coffee, and fraudulently obtaining a construction contract. He still remains in jail, as of 2006. The people of Ethiopia have doubt whether he really is a gilty or not.

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