Oromo rebels kill 11 soldiers in northwest Ethiopia

April 4, 2004 (ADDIS ABABA) –Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), armed wing of the Oromo Liberation Front, (OLF) killed over 11 soldiers and destroyed three vehicles, in northwest Ethiopia.

On 29 March 2007, OLA fighters operating in northern Oromia carried out an attack at a place called Odolo in the district of Achane in the province of Horro Guduru, killing over three Ethiopian soldiers and wounding over eight others. Weapons and other material were captured and three trucks transporting government troops were destroyed in the fighting.

Terrified by the attack, Ethiopian forces are harassing and detaining innocent people, accusing them of supporting and feeding OLA fighters, said the rebel radio Voice of Oromo Liberation.

Accusing them of failing to curb OLA fighters, Ethiopian government has been interrogating police officers in Horro Guduru since 31 March 2007. Reports reaching us indicate that it plans to fire some of the police officers it accuses of supporting the OLF.

(ST)