Ethiopia's opposition leaders on Monday started receiving trial for the first time since being detained amid bloody street violence last week.

At a hearing before three high court judges, 24 senior opposition members, civic leaders and reporters were denied bail and returned to jail until November 22 but were not charged, according to judiciary sources.

The 24 people, including Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) Chairman Hailu Shawel and Vice Chairman Berhanu Nega, were arrested on suspicion of inciting the five days of street violence.

In Addis Ababa last week, clashes between police and opposition supporters left at least 46 people dead. CUD has called for a general strike, starting on Monday, and keeping shops closed and taxis off the streets.

The government has blamed CUD for the violence, saying that CUD leaders would be prosecuted.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2005)