The basis for the challenge is the alleged role of  Girmai Gebremariam in facilitating a violent demonstration against Mr. Mesfin Hagos in London, UK on October 27, 2001.   Mesfin Hagos, a member of the high-ranking dissident group ?G-15? (12 of its 15 members have been jailed without charges since Septmber 2001), was the guest speaker in an event held at Islington Green School.    A verbal exchange among audience members escalated into a brawl: chairs and punches were thrown to the stage and Mesfin Hagos. The meeting was cancelled after the police were called because the private security firm hired for the event could not restore order.  

At the time, Girmai Gebremarim was the Eritrean ambassador to the UK and was accused by many Eritreans for being the organizer of the mob of government loyalists who provoked the fight and were congratulated for their role by fellow government supporters.

Mr. Girmai Gebremariam now serves as a department head at Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs which has been running without a Minister since August 2005.  If accredited, Girmai would be Eritrea's ambassador to the US and Canada.

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