Ethiopian govt probes killing of opposition lawmaker

ADDIS ABABA, June 13 (AFP) — Ethiopian authorities on Tuesday said they were probing the weekend slaying of an opposition legislator, who they said was “fatally wounded” by the country’s security forces.

Tesfaye Adane, an MP-elect from the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), one of Ethiopia’s main opposition parties, was killed some 225 kilometres (140 miles) south of Addis Ababa on Sunday, the UEDF said.

“I am aware of this, the case is being investigated,” Information Minister Berekat Simon said.

“There were two people wounded, probably the UEDF member was fatally wounded, a policeman has also been wounded,” he added.

“We received a body yesterday (Monday) belonging to Tesfaye Adane. He had been shot,” said an official at the Menelik hospital, which hosts the only morgue in the capital.

Another UEDF member was killed by police at his home in Jeldu in northeast Ethiopia on Saturday, according to UEDF President Merara Gudina.

The government did not comment on the reported incident.

Last week, protests in the capital sparked a heavy police crackdown and at least 36 people were killed on Wednesday when police opened fire on demonstrators protesting allegations of electoral fraud.

Disputed provisional results from Ethiopia’s May 15 elections that gave the lead to the ruling party sparked opposition protests that degenerated into violence.

The country’s election board, which is to look into nearly 300 complaints of electoral fraud, has postponed announcement of the final results to July 8.