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| Ethiopia stampede: 'At least 50 killed' after police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters | Ethiopia stampede: 'At least 50 killed' after police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of people have been killed in a stampede in Ethiopia after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters at a religious festival. | Dozens of people have been killed in a stampede in Ethiopia after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters at a religious festival. |
| The opposition party said at least 50 people had died. | The opposition party said at least 50 people had died. |
| An estimated two million people were attending the annual Irrecha event in Bishoftu town, south-east of the capital Addis Ababa. | An estimated two million people were attending the annual Irrecha event in Bishoftu town, south-east of the capital Addis Ababa. |
| The festival took place in Oromia, one of the country's most sensitive regions, which has seen several months of sometimes deadly protests demanding wider freedoms. | The festival took place in Oromia, one of the country's most sensitive regions, which has seen several months of sometimes deadly protests demanding wider freedoms. |
| Crowds reportedly chanted "we need freedom" and "we need justice", preventing community elders, deemed close to the government, from delivering their speeches at the festival. | Crowds reportedly chanted "we need freedom" and "we need justice", preventing community elders, deemed close to the government, from delivering their speeches at the festival. |
| Some protesters waved the red, green and yellow flag of the Oromo Liberation Front, a rebel group branded a "terrorist" organisation by the government. | Some protesters waved the red, green and yellow flag of the Oromo Liberation Front, a rebel group branded a "terrorist" organisation by the government. |
| Reports say some threw rocks and plastic bottles, leading police to respond by using tear gas and firing rubber bullets. | Reports say some threw rocks and plastic bottles, leading police to respond by using tear gas and firing rubber bullets. |
| The fleeing crowd created a stampede, with some plunging into a deep ditch, witnesses told Reuters. | The fleeing crowd created a stampede, with some plunging into a deep ditch, witnesses told Reuters. |
| Ethiopia's government acknowledged the deaths and released a statement to say many people had been taken to hospital. | Ethiopia's government acknowledged the deaths and released a statement to say many people had been taken to hospital. |
| "As a result of the chaos, lives were lost and several of the injured were taken to hospital," the government communications office said in a statement, without giving figures. | "As a result of the chaos, lives were lost and several of the injured were taken to hospital," the government communications office said in a statement, without giving figures. |
| "Those responsible will face justice." | "Those responsible will face justice." |
| Merera Gudina, chairman of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, told Reuters at least 50 people were killed. | Merera Gudina, chairman of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, told Reuters at least 50 people were killed. |
| He said the government tried to use the event to show Oromia was calm. "But residents still protested," he added. | He said the government tried to use the event to show Oromia was calm. "But residents still protested," he added. |
| According to Human Rights Watch, more than 400 people have been killed by Ethiopian security forces during anti-government protests carried out by the Oromo people since November 2015. | According to Human Rights Watch, more than 400 people have been killed by Ethiopian security forces during anti-government protests carried out by the Oromo people since November 2015. |
| Last year, human rights groups said up to 50 protesters were killed in a government crack down on protests. | Last year, human rights groups said up to 50 protesters were killed in a government crack down on protests. |
| Ethiopian silver medalist marathoner Feyisa Lilesa made an anti-government gesture when he crossed the finish line at the Rio Olympics, in a show of solidarity with the Oromo protests. | Ethiopian silver medalist marathoner Feyisa Lilesa made an anti-government gesture when he crossed the finish line at the Rio Olympics, in a show of solidarity with the Oromo protests. |
| He has not returned to the country since, saying his life could be in danger. | |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |