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At Least 166 Killed in Ethiopia After Week of Violence

Tsion Girma

   WASHINGTON - Widespread violencein the past weekin Ethiopia following
   the shooting death of a popular Oromo singer has killed at least166
   people, officials said Monday.

   Policesaid about 2,000people have been arrested in Oromia Regional
   State, including some senior political leaders of Oromo Liberation
   Front(OLF)and their supporters, afterHachaluHundessawas killed June 29
   by unidentified attackers.

   People in other areas of the Oromia region told VOA that unidentified
   attackers targetedpeoplenot ofOromosethnicity, although some ethnic
   Oromos were also attacked. The survivors told VOA the attackers,
   whoincluded gunmen, also burned and stoned some victims. Eyewitnesses
   told VOAthatbusinesses and private homes had been looted and burned,
   and historical sites destroyed.

   GirmaGelan, deputy commissioner of the Federal Police, said 156 people,
   including 145 civilians and 11 members of the security forces,had
   beenkilled since the violence began a week ago.

   GetuArgaw, police commissioner of Addis Ababa, said 10 people,
   including eight civilians and two security force members, had been
   killed.

   About 20 victims inDherratown ofArsiZone in Oromia,about115
   kilometers(72 miles) east of the capital, Addis Ababa,toldVOA they
   witnessed family members being killed, and their properties burned. The
   victims and eyewitnesses sought shelter ina church inDherra.

   ArsiZoneadministratorJemalAleyutold VOA that 36 people, including two
   law enforcement officials, were killed in his region.

   The killings "should never happen again in a community that lived
   together for years,and people responsible for the killings and the
   destruction were under police custody awaiting due process,"Aleyusaid.

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