Former Ethiopian dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, has been sentenced to death for genocide and other related crimes, along with 17 of his former henchmen.

Mengistu who ruled that country for 18 years, was found guilty by its Supreme Court.

The former lieutenant colonel,, who is in exile in Zimbabwe, had previously been found guilty of genocide after a 10 year trial by a Federal High court in Ethiopia.

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Supreme Court Judge, Desta Gebru rejected pleas for leniency by the defense sequel to request by prosecution to toughen the January 2007 life sentence by the high court.

According to Gebru" they have tortured and executed innocent people in public which applies as genocide in Ethiopian law.

Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe ha however ruled out any talk about extradition, since according to him " comrade Mengistu still remains a special guest"