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Oromia: Deadly stampede at Ethiopia festival | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Many people are reported to have been killed in a stampede in Ethiopia's Oromia region after police fired tear gas and shots to disperse a protest. | |
Thousands had gathered for a religious festival in Bishoftu, 40km (25 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa. | Thousands had gathered for a religious festival in Bishoftu, 40km (25 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa. |
Police responded after anti-government protesters threw stones and bottles, reports said. There was panic and some people fell into a ditch. | |
There have been months of deadly clashes in Ethiopia recently. | There have been months of deadly clashes in Ethiopia recently. |
People in the Oromia and Amhara regions have complained about political and economic marginalisation. | People in the Oromia and Amhara regions have complained about political and economic marginalisation. |
Crowds at Sunday's Oromo festival chanted "We need freedom" and "We need justice", witnesses said. | Crowds at Sunday's Oromo festival chanted "We need freedom" and "We need justice", witnesses said. |
Some participants crossed their wrists above their heads, a gesture that has become a symbol of Oromo protests. | Some participants crossed their wrists above their heads, a gesture that has become a symbol of Oromo protests. |
Ethiopia's government said in a statement that "lives were lost", adding: "Those responsible will face justice". | Ethiopia's government said in a statement that "lives were lost", adding: "Those responsible will face justice". |
The unrest was sparked last November by a plan to expand the capital into Oromia. This led to fears that farmers from the Oromo ethnic group, the largest in Ethiopia, would be displaced. | The unrest was sparked last November by a plan to expand the capital into Oromia. This led to fears that farmers from the Oromo ethnic group, the largest in Ethiopia, would be displaced. |
The plan was later dropped but protests continued, highlighting issues such as marginalisation and human rights. | The plan was later dropped but protests continued, highlighting issues such as marginalisation and human rights. |