Uganda, April 20 -- International rights organizations have urged Ethiopia to stop "arbitrarily arrest" of journalists and to respect citizens right to peaceful protest.

The calls this week by Amnesty International and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) came after Ethiopian authorities arrested at least seven journalists in a latest crackdown during the past two weeks following an anti-government protests in the country's Amhara region.

The two rights groups urged Ethiopian authorities to immediately release the journalists and drop all charges pressed against them.

In a statement issued Monday, and shared with this publication, Amnesty International said "Ethiopian authorities must immediately release seven media staff detained ag...