Ethiopia's government says it has lifted a state of emergency imposed in October after hundreds of people were killed in anti-government protests. <br/><br/>Lawmakers in the East African country have voted to end the emergency law that restricted a number of rights and led to the arrests of more than 21,000 people. <br/><br/>More than 600 people had been killed in the unrest. Defense Minister Siraj Fegessa said the government was able to deal with armed terrorists, anti- peace elements and troublemakers. <br/><br/>The minister said more than 8,000 people are still behind bars and are being prosecuted for crimes they are accused of committing during the violence.<br/><br/>The state of emergency was imposed after a deadly stampede at a religious celebration in October as police confronted protesters who demanded wider political freedoms.