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| Ethiopian deaths in fire at prison 'holding Oromo protesters' | Ethiopian deaths in fire at prison 'holding Oromo protesters' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An unknown number of inmates have died after a fire at an Ethiopian prison where prominent anti-government protesters are reportedly being held. | An unknown number of inmates have died after a fire at an Ethiopian prison where prominent anti-government protesters are reportedly being held. |
| Sustained gunfire could be heard coming from Qilinto prison, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, after the fire broke out, local media reported. | Sustained gunfire could be heard coming from Qilinto prison, on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa, after the fire broke out, local media reported. |
| The government confirms "some" deaths, while local media report that at least 20 people had died in the incident. | The government confirms "some" deaths, while local media report that at least 20 people had died in the incident. |
| There has been an unprecedented wave of protests in Ethiopia in recent months. | There has been an unprecedented wave of protests in Ethiopia in recent months. |
| Photos posted on social media on Saturday showed plumes of smoke rising from the prison compound. | Photos posted on social media on Saturday showed plumes of smoke rising from the prison compound. |
| Reports that the fire was started deliberately as part of an attempted jailbreak have not been independently verified. | Reports that the fire was started deliberately as part of an attempted jailbreak have not been independently verified. |
| There have been numerous protests in the Oromia region by members of the country's largest ethnic group since November 2015. | There have been numerous protests in the Oromia region by members of the country's largest ethnic group since November 2015. |
| Inside Qilinto prison by Tesfalem Waldyes | Inside Qilinto prison by Tesfalem Waldyes |
| Qilinto is a remand prison, where people can be held for three years or more as they await trial. | Qilinto is a remand prison, where people can be held for three years or more as they await trial. |
| The prison is divided in four zones made up of block walls and tin roofed cells. | The prison is divided in four zones made up of block walls and tin roofed cells. |
| The prison hosts around 3,000 inmates at a time who are held in cells measuring between 24m by 12m. The number of prisoners kept in a cell varies from 90 to 130. | |
| It is a highly secured prison with surveillance cameras installed on various corners. | It is a highly secured prison with surveillance cameras installed on various corners. |
| All types of prisoners are held there but it is where political prisoners including bloggers, journalists and activists are usually sent. | All types of prisoners are held there but it is where political prisoners including bloggers, journalists and activists are usually sent. |
| Customarily, political prisoners mix with other criminals but they are usually locked up in a designated "Kitat Bet" (punishment house) or "dark house" if they complain about mistreatment. | Customarily, political prisoners mix with other criminals but they are usually locked up in a designated "Kitat Bet" (punishment house) or "dark house" if they complain about mistreatment. |
| Inmates can be exposed to communicable diseases due to overcrowding and get poor medical attention. | Inmates can be exposed to communicable diseases due to overcrowding and get poor medical attention. |
| Due to the bad quality of food provided by the prison administration, prisoners mainly depend on food brought by their families. | Due to the bad quality of food provided by the prison administration, prisoners mainly depend on food brought by their families. |
| Tesfalem Waldyes is an Ethiopian journalist who was held in Qilinto prison for a year before being released in July 2015. | Tesfalem Waldyes is an Ethiopian journalist who was held in Qilinto prison for a year before being released in July 2015. |
| Many Oromo activists are being held at the Qilinto facility, according to pro-opposition media. | Many Oromo activists are being held at the Qilinto facility, according to pro-opposition media. |
| New York-based Human Rights Watch says that more than 400 people have been killed in clashes with the security forces in Oromia, although the government disputes this figure. | New York-based Human Rights Watch says that more than 400 people have been killed in clashes with the security forces in Oromia, although the government disputes this figure. |
| Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has blamed "anti-peace forces" for the violence. | Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has blamed "anti-peace forces" for the violence. |