http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-36881410
August 8, 2016
Live reporting
By Dickens Olewe and Farouk Chothia
Ethiopia's security forces 'kill nearly 100'
Posted at 16:27
Reuters
Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration on Saturday in
Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa
At least 97 people were killed and hundreds more injured when
Ethiopian security forces fired live bullets at peaceful protesters
across the Oromia and Amhara regions over the weekend, Amnesty
International says it has learned from credible sources.
Thousands of protesters turned out in Oromia and Amhara - Ethiopia's
two most populated regions - to demand political reform, justice and
the rule of law, Amnesty said.
It added that 67 people were believed to have killed in different
protests in Oromia.
The worst bloodshed, which "may amount to extrajudicial killings",
took place in the northern city of Bahir Dar where at least 30 people
were killed in one day, Amnesty said.
Hundreds were also being held at unofficial detention centres,
including police and military training bases, the rights group said.
Its regional director, Michelle Kagari, added:
The security forces’ response was heavy-handed, but unsurprising.
Ethiopian forces have systematically used excessive force in their
mistaken attempts to silence dissenting voices."
These crimes must be promptly, impartially and effectively
investigated and all those suspected of criminal responsibility must
be brought to justice in fair trials before ordinary civilian courts
without recourse to death penalty.”
The government has blamed "foreign enemies", social media activists
and "terrorist groups" for the violence.
Received on Mon Aug 08 2016 - 11:00:26 EDT