From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Sep 03 2008 - 14:53:46 EDT
Page last updated at 18:32 GMT, Wednesday, 3 September 2008 19:32 UK
Video parlour blast in Ethiopia
*There has been a large explosion in the Ethiopian capital's crowded Merkato
business district where people gather socially after work.*
The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the blast happened in a video
parlour where customers were watching a film.
A local radio station says four people died and 24 people were wounded. The
police have not released any figures.
Sporadic attacks in Addis Ababa are usually blamed on Eritrean-back rebels.
Tensions between the two countries stem from Ethiopia's failure to hand over
the disputed border town of Badme, which a UN-backed commission awarded to
Eritrea.
The two countries fought a bloody war between 1998 and 2000.
Our correspondent says the explosion happened at around 1700 local time
(1400 GMT).
Lots of ambulances have rushed to the scene - between the main Friday Mosque
and bus station - and the whole area has been cordoned off by police, she
says.
Merkato is full of teashops and places where young men and boys play table
football.
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