Italian aid worker back in Italy after Ethiopia arrest

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 15 - An Italian aid worker was back in Italy Monday after an eight-day arrest in Ethiopia.
    Alberto Livoni, 65, was taken by security forces from his home in Addis Ababa on November 6 and was held along with two local operators of the VIS development aid NGO.
    According to media rumours the Ethiopian authorities suspected him of giving money to Tigrè rebels.
    VIS works with the Salesian brothers order in Ethiopia in education projects and it very active in northern Tigrè.
    A group of Salesians were also released along with Livoni.
    Ethiopian police are continuing a crackdown on a suspected Tigrean 'fifth column' in Addis Ababa.
    "I'm glad I'm back in Italy," Livoni said Monday, according to the VIS website.
    "I'm OK now, despite there having been complicated days and strong concern, but thanks to the constant contact with the Italian embassy I remained confident of my release.
    "My thoughts now go to my Ethiopian colleagues who are still detained," Livoni said, referring to the two local VIS operators on which "our concern is still high", said the NGO.
    According to media sources, the authorities wanted to make sure that some $20,000 paid out by Livoni had not gone to the rebels.
    The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has been fighting government forces for several years. (ANSA).