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| Ethiopia army chief shot dead in 'coup bid' attacks | Ethiopia army chief shot dead in 'coup bid' attacks |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The chief of staff of the Ethiopian army, Gen Seare Mekonnen, has been shot dead by his own bodyguard in the capital, Addis Ababa. | The chief of staff of the Ethiopian army, Gen Seare Mekonnen, has been shot dead by his own bodyguard in the capital, Addis Ababa. |
| He and another officer died trying to prevent a coup attempt against the administration in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region, PM Abiy Ahmed said. | He and another officer died trying to prevent a coup attempt against the administration in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region, PM Abiy Ahmed said. |
| In Amhara itself, regional governor Ambachew Mekonnen was killed along with an adviser. | In Amhara itself, regional governor Ambachew Mekonnen was killed along with an adviser. |
| The government says the situation is under control after arrests were made. | The government says the situation is under control after arrests were made. |
| The prime minister has gone on TV to urge Ethiopians to unite in the face of "evil" forces set on dividing the country. | The prime minister has gone on TV to urge Ethiopians to unite in the face of "evil" forces set on dividing the country. |
| The US state department has warned its staff in Addis Ababa to stay inside. | The US state department has warned its staff in Addis Ababa to stay inside. |
| Ethnic violence has hit Amhara and other parts of Ethiopia in recent years. | Ethnic violence has hit Amhara and other parts of Ethiopia in recent years. |
| Since his election last year, Mr Abiy has moved to end political repression by releasing political prisoners, removing bans on political parties and prosecuting officials accused of human rights abuses. | Since his election last year, Mr Abiy has moved to end political repression by releasing political prisoners, removing bans on political parties and prosecuting officials accused of human rights abuses. |
| Africa's oldest independent country, Ethiopia is also the continent's second most populous (after Nigeria), with 102.5 million inhabitants from more than 80 different ethnic groups. | Africa's oldest independent country, Ethiopia is also the continent's second most populous (after Nigeria), with 102.5 million inhabitants from more than 80 different ethnic groups. |
| A transfer hub for long-haul air travel, it has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but a vast number of young Ethiopians are without work. | A transfer hub for long-haul air travel, it has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but a vast number of young Ethiopians are without work. |
| What do we know about the attacks? | What do we know about the attacks? |
| Gen Seare was killed on Saturday evening at his residence along with another general, Gezai Abera, by the bodyguard who is now in custody, the prime minister's press office says. | Gen Seare was killed on Saturday evening at his residence along with another general, Gezai Abera, by the bodyguard who is now in custody, the prime minister's press office says. |
| The government says it has reason to think the attack was linked to the assassination of the governor of Amhara a few hours earlier in the region's capital, Bahir Dar. | The government says it has reason to think the attack was linked to the assassination of the governor of Amhara a few hours earlier in the region's capital, Bahir Dar. |
| Mr Ambachew was killed at a meeting in his office along with his senior adviser, Ezez Wasie, while the region's attorney general was wounded. | Mr Ambachew was killed at a meeting in his office along with his senior adviser, Ezez Wasie, while the region's attorney general was wounded. |
| Lake Ayalew has now been appointed as the region's acting governor. | Lake Ayalew has now been appointed as the region's acting governor. |
| The prime minister's office accused Amhara's regional security chief, Brig-Gen Asaminew Tsige, of plotting the coup attempt. It is unclear whether he has been arrested. | The prime minister's office accused Amhara's regional security chief, Brig-Gen Asaminew Tsige, of plotting the coup attempt. It is unclear whether he has been arrested. |
| Many of those involved in the coup attempt are under arrest and operations are in progress to detain others, the PM's press office said. | Many of those involved in the coup attempt are under arrest and operations are in progress to detain others, the PM's press office said. |
| "The coup attempt in Amhara regional state is against the constitution and is intended to scupper the hard-won peace of the region," it added. | "The coup attempt in Amhara regional state is against the constitution and is intended to scupper the hard-won peace of the region," it added. |
| "This illegal attempt should be condemned by all Ethiopians and the federal government has full capacity to overpower this armed group." | "This illegal attempt should be condemned by all Ethiopians and the federal government has full capacity to overpower this armed group." |
| The mayor of Addis Ababa, Takele Uma, has said life will resume as normal on Monday and he called on the city's public employees to go to work as usual. | The mayor of Addis Ababa, Takele Uma, has said life will resume as normal on Monday and he called on the city's public employees to go to work as usual. |
| Safety and security would be maintained in the capital, he promised. | Safety and security would be maintained in the capital, he promised. |
| A toxic political atmosphere | A toxic political atmosphere |
| By Emmanuel Igunza, BBC Africa, Nairobi | By Emmanuel Igunza, BBC Africa, Nairobi |
| These are tumultuous time for Ethiopia and Prime Minister Abiy, who is already facing increased ethnic tensions. | These are tumultuous time for Ethiopia and Prime Minister Abiy, who is already facing increased ethnic tensions. |
| Chief of staff Seare Mekonnen had only served as head of the military for a year having being appointed by Mr Abiy, who made sweeping changes in the security apparatus when he took office last April. | Chief of staff Seare Mekonnen had only served as head of the military for a year having being appointed by Mr Abiy, who made sweeping changes in the security apparatus when he took office last April. |
| It is clear there is still significant opposition within the military opposed to the PM's style of leadership. | It is clear there is still significant opposition within the military opposed to the PM's style of leadership. |
| The killing of Amhara's governor is also a big blow for Mr Abiy, who is credited with installing Ambachew Mekonnen in office. | The killing of Amhara's governor is also a big blow for Mr Abiy, who is credited with installing Ambachew Mekonnen in office. |
| He was a key ally in Amhara, which is itself facing security problems and clamour from some groups for greater autonomy from the central government. | He was a key ally in Amhara, which is itself facing security problems and clamour from some groups for greater autonomy from the central government. |
| The first general election since Mr Abiy came to power is supposed to be held next year, but it is very hard to see how this will go ahead in a country that is highly polarised. The atmosphere is just too toxic. | The first general election since Mr Abiy came to power is supposed to be held next year, but it is very hard to see how this will go ahead in a country that is highly polarised. The atmosphere is just too toxic. |
| Why is Amhara so important? | Why is Amhara so important? |
| The homeland of the Amhara ethnic group is the country's second most populous region and has given Ethiopia its state language, Amharic. | The homeland of the Amhara ethnic group is the country's second most populous region and has given Ethiopia its state language, Amharic. |
| Violence between the Amhara and Gumuz ethnic groups left dozens of people dead last month in Amhara and its neighbouring region, Benishangul Gumuz. | Violence between the Amhara and Gumuz ethnic groups left dozens of people dead last month in Amhara and its neighbouring region, Benishangul Gumuz. |
| Ethnic violence, typically sparked by land disputes, has displaced nearly three million people across Ethiopia. | Ethnic violence, typically sparked by land disputes, has displaced nearly three million people across Ethiopia. |
| Another issue the prime minister is having to grapple with is unrest within the military. | Another issue the prime minister is having to grapple with is unrest within the military. |
| In October, he said hundreds of soldiers who marched to his office to demand a pay rise had wanted to kill him. | In October, he said hundreds of soldiers who marched to his office to demand a pay rise had wanted to kill him. |
| Mr Abiy survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago which killed two people and left more than 100 injured. | Mr Abiy survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago which killed two people and left more than 100 injured. |
| Who is the alleged organiser of the coup attempt? | Who is the alleged organiser of the coup attempt? |
| Asaminew Tsige was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the previous government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure. | Asaminew Tsige was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the previous government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure. |
| The general had been in custody for nine years for allegedly plotting a coup. | The general had been in custody for nine years for allegedly plotting a coup. |
| According to Reuters news agency, Amhara's top officials had convened Saturday's meeting to discuss open attempts by the general to recruit ethnic militias. | According to Reuters news agency, Amhara's top officials had convened Saturday's meeting to discuss open attempts by the general to recruit ethnic militias. |
| Gen Asaminew openly advised the Amhara people this month to arm themselves, in a video spread on Facebook and seen by a Reuters reporter. | |
| It was not immediately clear on Sunday if the general was among those arrested. | It was not immediately clear on Sunday if the general was among those arrested. |