Ethiopia’s PM regrets protest deaths

Nov 6, 2005 (BONN) — Ethiopia’s prime minister said Sunday he regretted the deaths of at least 46 people killed in a week of clashes between demonstrators and police.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was in Germany attending a conference called “Partnership with Africa,” convened by German President Horst Koehler — a former head of the International Monetary Fund.

On Saturday, Zenawi announced that an independent commission would investigate whether police used excessive force to quell last week’s violence and similar protests in June. This week’s clashes followed peaceful protests over disputed May elections.

“We regret the deaths but it was not a normal demonstration,” Meles said. “And I don’t want to justify it when policemen get in a panic, but I can understand it when there are people throwing hand grenades and using guns.”

Meles has blamed the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy for the violence and vowed that opposition officials would be prosecuted.

Meles was speaking at a panel discussion alongside Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who currently heads the 53-nation African Union, and South African President Thabo Mbeki. Obasanjo declined public comment on the events in Ethiopia.

The AU recently has expressed concern over rising tension around the demilitarized zone that separates Ethiopian and Eritrean troops. The two neighbors fought a 2 1/2-year border war that ended in 2000.

“We don’t want another stupid war,” Meles said Sunday, insisting that Ethiopia is ready for dialogue.

Koehler hopes to help foster Africa’s development with his initiative, with another conference slated to be held in Africa next year.

As for Meles, Koehler told ARD television: “I reminded him again that we consider certain rights inalienable.”

(AP/ST)