Ethiopian opposition says lawmaker-elect killed by police

ADDIS ABABA, June 13 (AFP) — One of Ethiopia’s two main opposition groups said Monday that two of its members, including a member of parliament-elect, were killed by security forces in separate weekend incidents following a week of post-election violence in the capital.

The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) said Tesfaye Adane Gara, who had been elected to parliament in the disputed May 15 polls, was shot dead by police on Sunday near the town of Shashamene.

“He was killed about 225 kilometers (140 miles) south of Addis Abeba by the police,” UEDF vice president, Beyene Petros, told AFP, adding that one of Tesfaye’s companions had been seriously wounded in the incident.

“He was sitting in the shade with some friends on Sunday afternoon and police started shooting at them,” Beyene said. “We have no explanation why they did this.”

UEDF president Merara Gudina said that another of the group’s members had been killed by police at his home in Jeldu in the northeast of the country on Saturday but could not give additional details.

Ethiopian authorities could not be reached to comment on the reported deaths although UEDF officials said they had been told by the government that six police officers had been in arrested in connection with Tesfaye’s death.

At least 36 people were killed in Addis Ababa last week during clashes between police and crowds during protests against alleged ruling party fraud in the elections.

The protests have sparked a massive police crackdown with more than 3,000 opposition supporters and members in custody, according to a human rights group.