Police says ”anti-Ethiopia forces” behind last week blasts

May 18, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The director-general of the Ethiopian federal police commission has said that some of the evidences collected so far on the recent explosions in Addis Ababa shows that it had the hand of “anti-Ethiopia forces” based abroad.

While briefing local journalists during the week, the director-general, Workneh Gebeyehu, said that according to the evidences collected so far foreign forces and anti-peace Ethiopians had a hand in the explosions.

No one has claimed blasts responsibility. But Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who was attending the official inauguration of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during the 12 May blasts, has claimed the material for the explosives has come from arch-rival neighbour Eritrea, a charge denied by Eritrean authorities.

The director-general said that the main objective of the explosions was to terrorize the people and implement the hidden agenda of the “anti-peace elements” and of the foreign forces.

Workneh said police have the responsibility to safeguard the peace and security of the people and would work day and night to do so.

Police have said last Friday blasts which ripped through two office buildings, a cafe, a bus station, three buses and a bridge, were “criminal acts” but have not accused any individual or group of being behind them.

The explosions were the latest in a series of more than a dozen mystery blasts to hit Addis Ababa and provincial towns, killing at least 11 people since January.

Ethiopia has blamed arch-foe Eritrea of supplying explosive materials for the blasts but Asmara has denied the charge and some Ethiopian officials have said they suspect separartist rebels or opposition figures are responsible.

Tension has been high in Addis Ababa for months since at least 84 people died – many at the hands of police – during opposition-led protests against alleged fraud in the May 2005 elections.

(ST)