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| Deadly explosion hits Ethiopia PM rally | Deadly explosion hits Ethiopia PM rally |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ethiopia's new PM Abiy Ahmed says several people have been killed in an explosion that hit a rally he was speaking at earlier on Saturday. | Ethiopia's new PM Abiy Ahmed says several people have been killed in an explosion that hit a rally he was speaking at earlier on Saturday. |
| He described it as an "unsuccessful attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united". | He described it as an "unsuccessful attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united". |
| Mr Abiy was whisked away immediately after the blast, thought to be from a grenade thrown amid thousands of people in the capital's Meskel Square. | Mr Abiy was whisked away immediately after the blast, thought to be from a grenade thrown amid thousands of people in the capital's Meskel Square. |
| Ethiopia has been riven by years of sometimes violent protests. | Ethiopia has been riven by years of sometimes violent protests. |
| Mr Abiy only became prime minister after his predecessor Hailemariam Desalegn unexpectedly resigned in February. | Mr Abiy only became prime minister after his predecessor Hailemariam Desalegn unexpectedly resigned in February. |
| He is the country's first leader from the ethnic Oromo group, which has been at the centre of nearly three years of anti-government protests that have left hundreds of people dead. | He is the country's first leader from the ethnic Oromo group, which has been at the centre of nearly three years of anti-government protests that have left hundreds of people dead. |
| One of their main complaints is that they have been politically, economically and culturally marginalised for years, despite being the country's largest group. | One of their main complaints is that they have been politically, economically and culturally marginalised for years, despite being the country's largest group. |
| The Ethiopian government has been accused of human rights violations including torture and extrajudicial killing of political dissidents. | The Ethiopian government has been accused of human rights violations including torture and extrajudicial killing of political dissidents. |
| However since taking power Mr Abiy has begun reforms to relax the state's previously tight grip on power. These have included unblocking hundreds of websites and TV channels. | However since taking power Mr Abiy has begun reforms to relax the state's previously tight grip on power. These have included unblocking hundreds of websites and TV channels. |
| On Friday an Ethiopian rebel group suspended its armed resistance against the government. | On Friday an Ethiopian rebel group suspended its armed resistance against the government. |
| Ginbot 7, based in neighbouring Eritrea, said Mr Abiy's reforms had given it hope that "genuine democracy" may be "a real possibility". | Ginbot 7, based in neighbouring Eritrea, said Mr Abiy's reforms had given it hope that "genuine democracy" may be "a real possibility". |
| Who is Abiy Ahmed? | Who is Abiy Ahmed? |
| Mr Abiy is believed to have huge support among the Oromo youth as well as other ethnic groups. | Mr Abiy is believed to have huge support among the Oromo youth as well as other ethnic groups. |
| He is leader of the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation (OPDO), one of the four ethnic parties which make up the ruling the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition. | He is leader of the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation (OPDO), one of the four ethnic parties which make up the ruling the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition. |
| The 42-year-old, who was born in the city of Agaro in Oromia and comes from a mixed Christian-Muslim family, joined the OPDO in the late 1980s. | The 42-year-old, who was born in the city of Agaro in Oromia and comes from a mixed Christian-Muslim family, joined the OPDO in the late 1980s. |
| He has served in the military, founded the country's Information Network and Security Agency, which is responsible for cyber-security in a country where the government exercises tight control over the internet, and then became the minister for science and technology. | He has served in the military, founded the country's Information Network and Security Agency, which is responsible for cyber-security in a country where the government exercises tight control over the internet, and then became the minister for science and technology. |
| Are you in Addis Ababa? Did you witness the explosion? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |