Posted on 11/02/2005 8:05:12 PM PST by Lorianne
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Clashes between police and protesters erupted in gunfire and grenade explosions yesterday, with police killing at least 33 people during a second day of renewed demonstrations against Ethiopia's disputed elections, a rights group said.
The independent Ethiopia Human Rights Council said in a statement sent to foreign embassies that the death toll was based on bodies taken to mortuaries here.
Hundreds of heavily armed riot police were deployed across the capital as heavy machine-gun fire, rifle fire and loud explosions rocked this city. Armour-ed personnel carriers carrying special forces patrolled streets littered with burning tyres and broken glass.
The fighting spread across the city, reaching the doorsteps of the British, French, Kenyan and Belgian embassies - all located in different parts of the capital. Workers at UN headquarters were told not to leave their offices.
At least 81 civilians were wounded in yesterday's clashes, including a seven-year-old boy who was shot in the hip, doctors at the Black Lion, Zewditu and Paulos hospitals said.
A reporter saw police surround Zewditu Hospital, dragging out and arresting young men at the facility.
The violence followed clashes on Tuesday between protesters and police in which eight people died and 43 were wounded.
Eyewitnesses said police fired assault rifles and lobbed grenades indiscriminately at civilians yesterday.
Information minister Berhan Hailu said the government was "sorry and sad" for the violence but he blamed it on the main opposition party.
The renewed clashes erupted after 30 taxi drivers were arrested on Monday for participating in demonstrations against the May 15 parliamentary elections.
The elections gave Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front control of 60% of the parliament.
Opposition parties made strong gains, but say the vote and counting were marred by fraud, intimidation and violence. They claim the ruling party rigged the elections.
Security officers have arrested all 15 members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy's central committee and about 1 000 supporters.
The May elections were seen as a test of Meles's commitment to reform his sometimes authoritarian regime. The US government has touted Meles as a progressive leader and a key partner in the war on terror.
Religions:
Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
Ethiopia is about 50% Muslim.
Thanks to the spread of this poison in Africa. The Kingdom Of Ethiopia was one of the first Christian Kingdoms in the world. It was once predominantly Christian, like Egypt and other countries in the Middle East.
The reign of terror by that Commie monster Mengistu who killed the last surviving Member of the Ethiopian Royal House, Haile Selassie, who was also titular head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church plunged that Country into a dark age and prevented its modernization.
Mengistu actually had Selassie's body entombed beneath his toilette.
Africa is a huge continent with basket case problems and potential rich resources.
The battle lines betrween Christianity and militant Islam have been drawn through the Sudan, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Islam must be stopped in Africa.
Yes, and the middle east, the Balkans, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France, England, America, Canada, Holland, China and every other place this black plague has spread itself to.
Today would have been nicer if we could... never mind.. caught myself with bad humor there
True.
They are an international menace.
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