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| Ethiopia mourns top general killed 'in Amhara coup attempt' | Ethiopia mourns top general killed 'in Amhara coup attempt' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Ethiopia has held a memorial for the army chief of staff, Gen Seare Mekonnen, who was shot dead in an alleged coup attempt on Saturday. | Ethiopia has held a memorial for the army chief of staff, Gen Seare Mekonnen, who was shot dead in an alleged coup attempt on Saturday. |
| Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was pictured weeping at the ceremony in Addis Ababa to honour the general, a key ally. | |
| The assassination was reportedly part of a coup attempt in the Amhara region. | The assassination was reportedly part of a coup attempt in the Amhara region. |
| Officials say the alleged attacker, the general's bodyguard, is being treated for his injuries - contradicting an earlier claim that he was dead. | Officials say the alleged attacker, the general's bodyguard, is being treated for his injuries - contradicting an earlier claim that he was dead. |
| The alleged ringleader behind the attempted coup, Brig Gen Asaminew Tsige, was shot dead on Monday, police said. | The alleged ringleader behind the attempted coup, Brig Gen Asaminew Tsige, was shot dead on Monday, police said. |
| He was reportedly killed as he tried to escape from his hideout in the Asmara region's capital, Bahir Dar. | He was reportedly killed as he tried to escape from his hideout in the Asmara region's capital, Bahir Dar. |
| Tuesday's memorial service took place at a large venue in the Ethiopian capital, amid tight security. | Tuesday's memorial service took place at a large venue in the Ethiopian capital, amid tight security. |
| Mourners paid their respects before flag-draped coffins bearing the bodies of Gen Seare and Gen Gezai Abera, a colleague who was assassinated with him. | Mourners paid their respects before flag-draped coffins bearing the bodies of Gen Seare and Gen Gezai Abera, a colleague who was assassinated with him. |
| Mr Abiy was filmed wiping away his tears at the event, while soldiers eulogised the dead men. | |
| In a statement on state media on Monday evening, Ethiopian federal police apologised for having earlier said that the alleged assassin, Gen Seare's bodyguard, had killed himself. | In a statement on state media on Monday evening, Ethiopian federal police apologised for having earlier said that the alleged assassin, Gen Seare's bodyguard, had killed himself. |
| The latest statement from the police said the bodyguard, who has not been named, was being treated for gunshot wounds in hospital. It is not clear if the injuries were self-inflicted. | The latest statement from the police said the bodyguard, who has not been named, was being treated for gunshot wounds in hospital. It is not clear if the injuries were self-inflicted. |
| The internet has been shut across Ethiopia, after a brief resumption in service that followed an unexplained blackout lasting more than a week. | |
| The attack on Gen Seare and Gen Abera on Saturday came hours after gunmen in Bahir Dar killed the governor of Amhara, Ambachew Mekonnen, along with two senior officials. | |
| The government described the events as a co-ordinated attempt to seize power in the northern region. State officials told local TV on Monday that Brig Gen Asaminew had been present at the killing of the governor. | |
| What has been the response to the alleged coup attempt | |
| Mr Abiy has urged Ethiopians to unite against "evil" forces set on dividing the country. | Mr Abiy has urged Ethiopians to unite against "evil" forces set on dividing the country. |
| The weekend's assassinations represent the biggest challenge yet to his year-old government, which has undertaken sweeping reforms to the security apparatus. | The weekend's assassinations represent the biggest challenge yet to his year-old government, which has undertaken sweeping reforms to the security apparatus. |
| The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza says there is clearly still significant opposition within the military to the prime minister's style of leadership. | The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza says there is clearly still significant opposition within the military to the prime minister's style of leadership. |
| The US, a key ally, has condemned the unrest, saying it was probably linked to "vestiges of the old regime" unhappy with Mr Abiy's reforms. | The US, a key ally, has condemned the unrest, saying it was probably linked to "vestiges of the old regime" unhappy with Mr Abiy's reforms. |
| Why did the alleged coup take place? | Why did the alleged coup take place? |
| While details are still emerging, news of Gen Asaminew's alleged bid for power was not a surprise for some Ethiopians. | While details are still emerging, news of Gen Asaminew's alleged bid for power was not a surprise for some Ethiopians. |
| He was a member of the Amhara, the country's second largest ethic group. He had a reputation for hardline ethnic nationalism and had previously called for the Amhara people to have greater autonomy. | He was a member of the Amhara, the country's second largest ethic group. He had a reputation for hardline ethnic nationalism and had previously called for the Amhara people to have greater autonomy. |
| This month, in a video on social media, he openly advised the Amhara to arm themselves. He had been serving as Amhara's regional security chief and was said to have a significant following among young people. | This month, in a video on social media, he openly advised the Amhara to arm themselves. He had been serving as Amhara's regional security chief and was said to have a significant following among young people. |
| He was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the government moved to free political detainees in response to public pressure. | He was among a group of high-ranking military officers released from prison early last year when the 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. |
| Gen Asaminew had a bad relationship with the Tigray regional government as well. | Gen Asaminew had a bad relationship with the Tigray regional government as well. |
| The government claimed that Gen Seare and Gen Abera had been killed because they came from the minority Tigray ethnic group. | The government claimed that Gen Seare and Gen Abera had been killed because they came from the minority Tigray ethnic group. |
| What has been Mr Abiy's record in office? | What has been Mr Abiy's record in office? |
| Since his election last year, he has moved to end repression by releasing political prisoners, removing bans on opposition political parties and overseeing the prosecution of officials accused of human rights abuses. | Since his election last year, he has moved to end repression by releasing political prisoners, removing bans on opposition political parties and overseeing the prosecution of officials accused of human rights abuses. |
| He has also restored diplomatic relations with Ethiopia's long-time adversary, Eritrea. | He has also restored diplomatic relations with Ethiopia's long-time adversary, Eritrea. |
| But his reforms have taken on powerful interest groups in the military and the ruling coalition. | But his reforms have taken on powerful interest groups in the military and the ruling coalition. |
| Mr Abiy survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago on Sunday, which killed two people and left more than 100 injured. | Mr Abiy survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago on Sunday, which killed two people and left more than 100 injured. |
| 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. |