This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-37534387
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Oromia: Deadly stampede at Ethiopia protest | Oromia: Deadly stampede at Ethiopia protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dozens have been killed and injured in Ethiopia's Oromia region after security forces confronted protesters at a festival, witnesses say. | Dozens have been killed and injured in Ethiopia's Oromia region after security forces confronted protesters at a festival, witnesses say. |
| Some people died in a panicked stampede after police employed tear gas, rubber bullets and baton charges, they said. | |
| 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. |
| Some reports said police responded after anti-government protesters threw stones and bottles. | Some reports said police responded after anti-government protesters threw stones and bottles. |
| Others said demonstrators were entirely peaceful. | Others said demonstrators were entirely peaceful. |
| 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". |
| An Oromo activist, Jawar Mohamed, is quoted as saying nearly 300 people were killed and many more injured. He said troops and a helicopter gunship had opened fire, driving people off a cliff and into a lake. | An Oromo activist, Jawar Mohamed, is quoted as saying nearly 300 people were killed and many more injured. He said troops and a helicopter gunship had opened fire, driving people off a cliff and into a lake. |
| There has been no independent confirmation of this. | There has been no independent confirmation of this. |
| 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. |
| The US has expressed concern about what it termed the excessive use of force against protesters. | The US has expressed concern about what it termed the excessive use of force against protesters. |
| Crowds at Sunday's Oromo festival, which AP news agency said had attracted two million people, chanted "We need freedom" and "We need justice", witnesses said. | Crowds at Sunday's Oromo festival, which AP news agency said had attracted two million people, 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. |
| 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. |