Addis Ababa (Reuters) - Ethiopia has lifted its suspension of 35 athletes, including double Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele, an athletics official said on Tuesday after imposing a ban last week in a row over a training camp.

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation imposed the measure on Thursday after Bekele, Olympic women's 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba and others failed to turn up for preparations ahead of major championships this year, including the London Olympics.
The body summoned over 200 athletes to a training camp two months ago.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Two people familiar with the situation say Ethiopia's track federation plans to lift the suspension it placed on Olympic distance running champion Kenenisa Bekele, clearing the way for him to compete at the London Games.

The people tell The Associated Press that the federation plans to reinstate Bekele soon. They spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been made public.

On the backdrop of recent acts of racism against Israel's Ethiopian community, President Shimon Peres recently visited the Amit Reshit School in Jerusalem, where children of Ethiopian descent have been successfully integrated. There, he was inspired by Rachel, the school choir's lead singer.
After hearing eighth grader Rachel sing, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem," Peres returned to the President's Residence overwhelmed. That night, he sat down, put his thoughts in writing and composed a song for her and for the Ethiopian community.

"I cannot forget Rachel's beautiful and kind eyes," he told his advisors. "When I looked at her I saw through her eyes the Ethiopian Jews' hardship and endless yearning for the Land of Israel."

African Union summit meetings officially kicked off in Ethiopia’s capital Monday with ministerial gatherings, and an agenda that includes a leadership battle.

The session in Addis Ababa began with a minute of silence dedicated to the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai and the late African commissioner Elisabeth Tankeu.

African Union spokesman Noureddine Mezni said Monday's and Tuesday’s meetings primarily are discussions designed to set the groundwork for the African Union’s 18th summit a week from now.