NAIROBI (Reuters) - Two Ethiopian activists jailed for inciting post-election violence in 2005 in a case that triggered condemnation from rights groups were freed from prison on Friday.

Daniel Bekele was employed by ActionAid, while Netsanet Demissie worked closely with the global anti-poverty campaigner through his Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

They were the last two defendants after a high profile trial that originally charged 131 journalists, politicians and civil society leaders with offences ranging from genocide to treason.

"It is indeed a wonderful moment for civil society in Ethiopia," said Irfan Mufti of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), which both men also worked for.

Demonstrators took to the streets to protest at polls in May 2005 that the opposition said were rigged. A parliamentary inquiry said 199 civilians and police were killed and 30,000 people arrested. The government denied rigging the ballot.

Most of the 131 people originally charged were freed last year after the government published a letter it said opposition leaders had signed admitting their guilt and repenting.

Both Bekele and Netsanet had been involved in deploying observers at polling stations in and around the capital Addis Ababa during the election. They were sentenced in December 2007 to two and a half years in jail.