 Political protests spread from the capital to other parts of Ethiopia Friday after a week of bloody clashes between demonstrators and police. Western diplomats said they had reports of several deaths in protests outside Addis Ababa Friday. Scattered gunfire and rioting was also reported in the capital, where doctors said at least two people were wounded. Police have killed at least 40 people since confrontations began Tuesday in the capital, medical officials said. The protests started peacefully Monday, with demonstrations against Prime Minister Zenawi Meles, whose May election has been disputed. The medical workers asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation from government officials, who put the number of dead during the week at 24 civilians and seven police officers. |