Ethiopian Olympic hopeful Athlete threatened with gun at hotel
By Samson Haileyesus
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- Ethiopian marathon Olympic hopeful Deriba Merga was threatened by fellow marathon runner Tessema Abshiro with a gun on Sunday July 20, 2008 in the compound of the Ghion Hotel.
According to police reports the incident took place when Diriba Merga (6th in the 2008 London Marathon and winner of the 2007 Great Ethiopian Run 10km) was returning from training encounters Tessema who and pulled out a gun threatening him by saying, ‘you are the one I am looking for’
The incident follows last Thursday’s [July17, 2008] altercation between Bezunesh Bekele and world one-hour record holder Dire Ture before their early-morning training session after the pair argued over who deserved to claim the last spot on Ethiopia’s female Olympic marathon team. Tessema who had dropped out of the Olympic marathon team and is husband to Bizunesh in a statement he gave to police following the incident on Sunday stated that he was called suddenly to the hotel to come and pick up his wife who he said had tried to commit suicide following reports that she had been dropped out.
Sergeant Sisay Diababa of the Kirkos  Sub city police department, tells SSI that Tessema in the statement he gave to police following his detention confronted Deriba with the gun because Deriba was friends with Kelil Aman, Ture’s husband and training partner Kelil Aman. Tessema has stated that he had been overcome by emotions at the moment.
 The incident was later diffused following interventions by bystanders. Tessema spent Sunday in jail and on Monday was released on bail with 300 birr. According to police Merga has since filed motions to drop the charges.
Police state that event though the charges are dropped the prosecutor would decide whether or not charge to Tessema of possessing a firearm with intent to put another in fear of violence.