The BBC's Peter Biles in Addis Ababa - an opposition stronghold - says some people appear to have stayed at home, either because they are heeding the opposition's call to do so, or simply because they are nervous about a fresh outbreak of violence.

The opposition say the strike is a success, but the government says things are returning to normal following last week's disturbances.

Arrests

Several Ethiopian opposition leaders have been brought before judges for the first time since being detained a week ago following the start of clashes.

One of their lawyers, Mehrteab Leul, said that 24 opposition leaders had appeared in court.

They included the chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Hailu Shawel, the vice-chairman, Berhanu Nega, and the prominent human rights activist Mesfin Wolde Mariam.

They were not charged, but ordered to be held for another 14 days.

Inquiry

The Ethiopian government is coming under pressure from the West to begin talks with the opposition.

Speaking in Germany, Mr Meles said it was understandable that police had panicked when facing protesters with hand grenades and guns.

"We regret the death but it was not a normal demonstration," Mr Zenawi said during a visit to Bonn.

"And I don't want to justify it when policemen get in a panic, but I can understand it when there are people throwing hand grenades and using guns," he said.

Mr Meles had earlier announced that an independent commission would investigate whether police had used excessive force to quell the unrest.

The unrest first erupted on Tuesday after the opposition accused the government of rigging the 15 May elections, and there are fears of more protests.

The elections saw Mr Meles's Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front take control of two-thirds of the country's parliament.

Ambassadors from 21 countries which have given aid to the drought-ravaged country issued a statement expressing dismay at the violence, and calling for an urgent investigation.

On Sunday, a joint statement by the US and the EU called on all political parties to "desist from further violence and to abide by the rule of law".

Police patrols

Most businesses were closed in riots in the capital, which spread to other towns in the country including Bahir Dar, Awassa and Debre Berhan.

It was the worst disturbance in sub-Saharan Africa's second most populous country since protests first ignited after the elections, when some 36 people died and hundreds were arrested.

Police and soldiers have been patrolling Addis Ababa but residents fear the outbreak of more violence.

The unrest has sparked fears the country may be moving into a period of more authoritarian rule.

The internal crisis comes at a time of increasing tension with Eritrea over the two countries' disputed border, our correspondent says.