Device explodes in eastern Ethiopian town; one dead

April 27, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — A device exploded in an eastern Ethiopia town, killing one person, the government spokesman said Friday.

The explosion occurred Thursday in the eastern Ethiopia town of Jijiga at the home of an Ethiopian family mourning the death of their relative in a rebel attack earlier this week, said Zemedkun Tekle, the government spokesman.

He said the attack was carried out by rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front, who attacked a Chinese-owned oil exploration field in eastern Ethiopia on Tuesday, killing 65 Ethiopians and nine Chinese.

“The terrorists who have done the massacre have done this. This horrible incident has been committed by the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front),” Zemedkun told The Associated Press.

Officials of the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front weren’t immediately available for comment.

Bereket Simon, an adviser to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, said the device was a grenade, but he did not know who was responsible for the attack.

(AP)