Ethiopian police open fire on protesters

1 dies, 33 hurt as religious event becomes political clash over church chief

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, January 21, 2006

/ Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Police opened fire on demonstrators in the Ethiopian capital Friday, leaving at least one person dead and 33 wounded as religious processions turned into political protests for a second day. At least seven officers were injured.

BORIS HEGER/AP
BORIS HEGER/AP
Nurses cleaned Wubishet Solomon's wound Friday in an Ethiopian hospital as clashes erupted for a second day.

A witness said the demonstrators were denouncing the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for being aligned with the ruling party. Demonstrations were reported in several neighborhoods across Addis Ababa, and riot police were driving through the city. Some of the police trucks appeared to be carrying people wounded from the clashes.

A senior police officer said a hand grenade was thrown at a patrol providing security for a religious procession, injuring three officers.

Doctors at the main Menelik Hospital said they were treating 20 people with gunshot wounds, and two of them were in surgery. Other hospitals reported receiving six wounded people. None of the doctors would identify themselves for fear of arrest.

Some of those being treated said the police opened fire indiscriminately.

"I don't really know what was happening to me. I was shot by the police twice, one on my stomach and one on my throat," said 16-year-old Wubishet Solomon, who said he was listening to religious music when the shooting started.

Other witnesses said that protesters were throwing stones and that the police responded with gunfire.

The protesters were shouting slogans denouncing the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, who was leading the religious observations, one witness said, asking not to be named for fear of retribution.

The church patriarch, Abune Paulos, has been criticized by opposition supporters for being too close to Ethiopia's ruling party.

Minor protests began Thursday afternoon during Timkat, one of Ethiopia's most important religious observances.

The clashes began the day after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer arrived in the country, and after Hillary Benn, Britain's international development secretary, cut all of his country's aid to Ethiopia's government because of concerns about Ethiopia's commitment to good governance and human rights.

Political unrest in Ethiopia began in June 2005 after disputed elections that returned the governing party to power and led to 88 protesters being killed by security forces.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi ordered the arrest of most senior opposition leaders and the editors of several independent newspapers. They were charged with treason and genocide.


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