An Ethiopian court has issued a death sentence to a former regional official charged with murder and with supporting an Eritrean-backed terror group.
The state-run Ethiopian News Agency reports that Jemua Ruphael Amen was found guilty and sentenced on Tuesday by the country's Federal High Court.
The agency cited a statement from the Ministry of Justice that said Jemua had murdered "three innocent civilians."
The statement also said Jemua formed a separatist movement in Benishangul Gumuz state and was carrying out terrorist attacks there with the Eritrean government.
The agency says Juma was once in charge of economic planning in the regional government.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been tense since a 1998 to 2000 border war. The countries often accuse each other of being behind various plots and attacks on each other's territory.