Political unrest takes heavy toll in Ethiopia

Political unrest takes heavy toll in Ethiopia
By The Associated Press and Reuters

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Riot police deployed across the Ethiopian capital firing guns and lobbing grenades Wednesday to quell a second day of protests over disputed parliamentary elections. At least 23 people were killed and 150 wounded, including children, doctors and hospital workers said.
However, government Information Minister Berhan Hailu said the casualty figures had been exaggerated and put the death toll at 11 civilians and one police officer.
The killing of civilians was a political setback for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, touted by the Bush administration as a progressive African leader and a key partner in the war on terror.
The May 15 vote, which gave his ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front control of 60 percent of the parliament, had been seen as a key test of Meles' commitment to reform in this country of 77 million. Opposition parties say the vote and ballot-counting were marred by fraud, intimidation and violence, and accuse the ruling party of rigging the elections.
In June, post-election clashes killed 36 people in Addis Ababa, an opposition stronghold, in the capital's worst violence since bloody student riots wracked Africa's top coffee-growing country in 2001.
Machine-gun fire and explosions rocked the capital Wednesday, and armored personnel carriers with special-forces troops charged down streets littered with burning tires and broken glass.
The violence spread across the city of 3 million people, reaching the doorsteps of the British, French, Kenyan and Belgian embassies — all located in different parts of the capital. Workers at U.N. headquarters were told not to leave their offices.
An Associated Press reporter saw police surround Zewditu Hospital, dragging out and arresting young men. Witnesses said security officials were rounding up young people in various parts of the city.
Wednesday's clashes came hours after security officials arrested opposition leaders.
The violence followed clashes Tuesday between protesters and police that killed eight people and wounded 43. The protests erupted after 30 taxi drivers were arrested Monday for participating in demonstrations against the parliamentary elections.

Addis is the home of the 53-nation Africa Union and its troubles have been embarrassing for the new alliance as it tries to end wars and poverty and promote democracy.
The United States condemned "cynical, deliberate" attempts to stoke violence.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged the Ethiopian government to release all detainees and appealed to Ethiopia's opposition not to provoke violence.
"We call on the opposition to refrain from inciting civil disobedience during this time of heightened tension," said McCormack.
"We are protesting because the government stole the election. People are angry because the police are very cruel," said Ghebremichael Ayele, dragging pieces of wood to block a road leading to the capital's biggest hospital.
At one hospital, a relative of one of the dead, Dawit Tesfaye, said: "The problem we have is that he [Meles] wants to stay in power by force. That's why they are killing my family."
The latest violence erupted as the United Nations said former foes Ethiopia and Eritrea had moved troops and tanks toward their border in recent weeks in a worrying sign of mounting tension between the neighbors.
Tigist Daniel, 16, said she brought her 50-year-old mother to a hospital after police shot her in the stomach.
"They are shooting anyone who comes out of their house," Daniel said.
Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company