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| Africa Horn |
| One Dead, Scores Wounded In Æthiopia PM’s Rally Blast |
| 2018-06-24 |
| [RADIOSHABELLE] An kaboom has struck a large rally by supporters of Æthiopia’s new, reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, killing at least one person and wounding dozens of others. Abiy had just wrapped up his speech at the capita’s Meskel Square before tens of thousands of people on Saturday when the kaboom went off, sending droves of supporters towards the stage as the prime minister left hurriedly. In an address broadcast afterwards on state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? , Abiy said the blast was orchestrated by groups who wanted to undermine the rally but did not name them. "The people who did this are anti-peace forces. You need to stop doing this. You weren’t successful in the past and you won’t be successful in the future." He said several people had been killed, but Æthiopia’s Health Minister later adjusted that statement, saying one person had passed away at Addis Ababa’s Black Lion Hospital. In an earlier post on Twitter, Fitsum Arega, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said person or persons unknown launched a grenade attack on the rally. "Some whose heart is filled with hate attempted a grenade attack. HE PM Abiy is safe. All the casualties are deaders of love & peace. HE PM sends his condolences to the victims. The perpetrators will be brought to justice," Fitsum said. The state broadcaster quickly cut away from coverage of the rally, which has broken up with people singing, chanting and going back to their homes. Ambulances were at the scene in the crowded Meskel Square in Addis Ababa where the prime minister had been addressing thousands of supporters. |
| Posted by:Fred |