Violence prompts fears for Ethiopia's stability

Violence prompts fears for Ethiopia's stability
Saturday, November 5, 2005. 7:03am (AEDT)
There are deepening concerns about the stability of the Horn of Africa, with anti-government protests continuing in Ethiopia.
More than 40 people have now been killed in the violence, which has spread beyond the capital, Addis Ababa.
Heavily-armed Ethiopian special forces have taken to the streets in Humvees and armoured personnel carriers in an attempt to control the rioting.
Opposition supporters are calling for the release of political prisoners and an independent investigation into deaths from police gunfire.
The violent protests have been occurring in Ethiopia since the May election, which the Opposition has claimed was rigged.
The latest bout of violence began in the capital, which is a stronghold of opposition groups.
"We are very scared because although it is a bit quiet now, the fighting is likely to start again. The police are provoking the public," Opposition supporter Endale Alemaghue said.
"They say they want to arrest our leaders, but they have arrested all of them, so who do they want? They just want trouble."
The Government says it will go on working with ordinary people to ensure the unrest is ended "once and for all".
"The violence incited by the opposition in Addis Ababa over the last three days has been brought under control," it said.
"Similar but very limited violent trends happened in Bahir Dar, Awasa, Gondar, Dessie, and Dire Dawa, these were brought under control after a short while."
Border disturbances
The disturbances have coincided with fresh tension with neighbouring Eritrea, Ethiopia's foe in a 1998-2000 border war.
UN peacekeepers patrolling the disputed Ethiopia-Eritrea frontier warn that recent military moves by both countries have produced a crisis requiring urgent attention.
They say they are concerned the moves in the past two weeks involving tanks, air defence missiles and troops could lead to a repeat of the conflict.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has expressed his concern about the situation, urging the Government and the Opposition to show restraint and settle their differences through dialogue.
An EU statement says Mr Solana is worried about the authorities' "excessive use of force".
But he is also urging the Opposition to take up parliamentary seats it won in the polls.
Several opposition MPs have boycotted the assembly in protest at alleged rigging.
The stance has been criticised by some Western governments, which say it is evidence of what they call the fondness of some Opposition leaders for grandiose gestures.
- ABC/Reuters