New Ethiopian unrest claims 3
02/12/2005 13:58  - (SA)  

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Addis Ababa - At least three people were killed in new political unrest in Ethiopia after security forces and students clashed in the country's central Oromo region, said police on Friday.

They said two students and one police officer were killed and another student wounded in violence that erupted on Wednesday, leading to up to 20 arrests in Jeldu, 130km west of the capital.

They said about 2 500 stone throwing students protesting against alleged ruling party human rights abuses and fraud in disputed elections marched on the police station in the town attempting to disarm officers there.

Asefaw Beyene, the police commander in the larger nearby town of Ambo, whose forces were deployed to Jeldu to restore order, said: "They went to the police station and threw stones."

20 held for clashes

He said: "They were trying to take the Kalashnikovs of the police. They killed one of our members ... before he died he shot back and killed two of them."

Asefaw said: "It is now under control and quiet", adding that calm had been restored on Thursday and that 15 to 20 people had been arrested for the clashes, the latest in a series of deadly attacks related to the May polls.

At least two and as many as five people were killed after rioting students battled police in Ambo last month, after at least 46 people were killed during protests against the elections in the capital and four other towns.

In June, at least 37 people were killed in Addis Ababa after police opened fire on crowds during protests against the results of the polls.

CUD officials detained

The government had accused the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) of inciting the violence in a bid to foment a coup d'etat and had arrested the group's top leadership.

On Thursday, the detained CUD officials, who had not yet been charged, but denied any allegations of wrongdoing, were again refused bail and ordered to remain in custody until December 16 after charges were to be filed.

The opposition accused Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) of stealing the May 15 elections through massive fraud and had demanded new polls.

Meles had rejected the allegation as well as opposition calls for new polls to be held.

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