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Kerry Meets Boston Marathon Winner in Addis Ababa


At the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met the Ethiopian who won the men's division of this year's Boston Marathon.

Lelisa Desisa told Kerry he pledged to return to Boston at some point in the future to return his winner's medal to the city in honor of the victims of the terrorist bombing that occurred near the finish line later in the day. The runner, who is in his 20s, did not specify when he would return to the United States. But he said "sport should never be used as a battleground," and said his return would be to show that the commitment to freedom is stronger than any act of violence.

During Kerry's visit, embassy workers participated in a moment of silence for the Boston victims. Three people died in the April 15 bombing and more than 250 others were wounded.

On Saturday, thousands of runners who were unable to finish the race after the bombing gathered once again in Boston and symbolically completed the final mile of the marathon, which was cut short in April.
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