Death of one Ethiopian policeman injured during unrest
Nov 24, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopia’s Federal Police announced the death of a polceman, Constable Ashenafi Dessalegn, who received severe injury from a hand grenade thrown during the recent riot in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.
Constable Ashenafi sustained the injury on November 2, 2005 from a hand grenade thrown by rioters in an area locally known as “Asefa Megazen” while he was on duty to disperse rioters.
On 8 November, Medical Director of the Ethiopian Police Hospital said seven policemen have been killed and around 250 sustained severe and light injuries as a result of in clashes between opposition supporters and police, chiefly in the national capital.
At least 42 people were killed in a week of clashes between riot police and opposition supporters apparently heeding a call made last month by the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) for renewed protests over a May poll.
The latest unrest in Ethiopia followed the deaths of 36 people in June in similar protests over the election.
Most opposition leaders and several editors of privately-owned newspapers remain jailed. Meles said they would be charged with treason for inciting insurrection.
According to the AP, most observers agreed the result reflected disenchantment with Meles, rather than support for the untested opposition. But the roots of the recent unrest are more than political.
Most Ethiopians live in abject poverty, and complain life is not improving. Average incomes are just US$100 (A86) a year.
(ST/ENA)