US says Ethiopia unrest was deliberately provoked

US says Ethiopia unrest was deliberately provoked

02 Nov 2005 19:55:24 GMTSource: ReutersBy Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States condemned "cynical, deliberate" attempts to stoke violence in the Ethiopian capital where at least 23 people were killed in clashes on Wednesday between police and protesters.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack appealed for calm and urged the Ethiopian government to appoint an independent commission to investigate the unrest as well as violent protests in June against a May election which the opposition says was rigged.
"We deplore the use of violence and deliberate attempts to provoke violence in a misguided attempt to resolve political differences," said McCormack.
McCormack urged the Ethiopian government to release all detainees, including those arrested in recent weeks, and said senior opposition leaders should be treated humanely and if charged, assured of a just and timely trial.
He 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.
Post-election clashes in June killed 36 people in the capital Addis Ababa, an opposition stronghold in sub-Saharan Africa's second most populous nation. Foreign observers broadly endorsed the poll results but noted some irregularities.
The latest violence erupted as the United Nations said former foes Ethiopia and Eritrea had moved troops and tanks towards their border in recent weeks in a worrying sign of mounting tension between the neighbors.
Asked to comment on the troop buildup, McCormack said he did not have any specific details but urged both sides to adhere to peace agreements they had signed and try to resolve their long-standing conflict peacefully.
"Any political differences that may arise between Ethiopia and Eritrea need to be resolved in a peaceful manner and through dialogue," he said.
McCormack reiterated U.S. calls for Ethiopia's opposition parties to take up their seats in parliament after May's election which gave Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's party a third five-year term in power.
About 150 people were wounded in Wednesday's unrest which began a day earlier after the Coalition for Democracy and Unity (CUD) opposition group urged fresh protests. Later on Tuesday, leaders from the CUD were arrested on claims they orchestrated the violence.
"What we are trying to get at here is the idea that there are cynical, deliberate attempts to provoke violence, provoke a violent reaction from the other side," McCormack added.
AlertNet news is provided by