Brussels - Ethiopia has released European Commission staff member and rights lawyer Yalemzewd Bekele from jail, the EU said, welcoming the move but reaffirming that the bloc's ties with the African country had been damaged.
"The release of Ms Bekele is very good news. We had been extremely concerned about her fate since her arrest," European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said in a statement on Friday.
Last week, Addis Ababa expelled two European Union diplomats - an Italian and a Swede - saying they had been caught trying to smuggle two wanted Ethiopians out of the country by car.
Bekele was one of the two Ethiopians detained near the border with Kenya. Amnesty International had said she was at risk of torture for aiding the opposition. There was no word on the other Ethiopian detained with Bekele.
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Michel said the EU would continue to support the democratic process in Ethiopia despite the damage to relations caused by the incident.
"These unfortunate events have damaged the relationship between the EU and Ethiopia. Wounds must be healed. The EU is committed to continue supporting the democratic process in Ethiopia as Ethiopia is a key partner to the EU," Michel said.
EU ties with Ethiopia suffered after post-election violence last year, which badly tarnished Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's international reputation.
The bloc halted direct budgetary aid after scores of people died in protests over the poll. Chief EU election observer Ana Gomes was fiercely critical of irregularities.
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