Claims of Ethiopian aid used for guns

Millions of dollars destined to help Ethiopia's starving in the 1980s could have ended up prolonging their suffering.

Allegations have emerged that money, including donations to Bob Geldof's Live Aid concerts, was used to arm rebel gangs.

In July 1985 Ethiopia was the recipient of a huge international response to their famine plight.

This was primarily done through Live Aid, a series of concerts around the world linked via satellite, and Band Aid, a super-band that sung Do They Know It's Christmas?

Hundreds of millions of dollars was raised for Ethiopia's starving through the events.

Now it is alleged the starving got just a fraction of that money - as little as 5% in some areas. The rest was used to buy weapons for a civil war.

The allegations include former rebel leaders saying they had posed as merchants in meetings with charity workers to get aid money during the 1984-85 famine.

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"We were using aid money you know to buy arms you know," a former Ethiopian General says.

They say they used the cash to fund attempts to overthrow the government of the time.

It is also claimed money was used to finance the political rise of Meles Zanawi. He is still Prime Minister, and refuses to speak about the new claims.

Aid organisations insist they monitored where the money went and question the motives of a disgruntled ex-commander in speaking out now.

"The essence of the report also is not just about Live Aid it's that all moneys going into Tigray, that will be Oxfam, Save The Children ... We were all duped and that is simply not the case,' says Bob Geldof.

Ethiopian officials also insist the money went to those in need. Abadi Zemo, a senior member of Ethiopia's ruling coalition, has described the allegations as nonsensical.

But the full story of corruption and compromise in Ethiopia may still not have been told a quarter of a century on.