Andargachew Tsege, the British citizen who spent four years on death row in Ethiopia as a political prisoner, addressed crowds in the capital Addis Ababa last night after his release:

“Well, it’s been a really great day. I'm very surprised by the reception I received from my fellow countrymen, and I'm quite happy. And I'm very grateful to all the people. who campaigned all over the world for my release.”

The Ethiopian government had accused him of plotting a coup and he was sentenced to death in absentia in 2009.