Ethiopia blames Eritrea, rebels over minibus bombing

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

May 28,2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia has accused arch-foe Eritrea and a rebel group- the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) of last week’s minibus bomb blast which claimed the lives of 6 people and wounded 7 others.

According to federal police statement, “evidences have indicated that the attack was organized by Eritrea and perpetrated by the self-style Oromo liberation front.”

Mean while the joint anti-terror task force of the national intelligence, security service and the federal police on Tuesday disclosed that some suspects are arrested in connection with May 20’s attack at passenger minibus near the ministry of foreign affairs but didn’t say how many.

The suspects were taken to custody based on the information from the public.

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) is a political organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to lead the national liberation struggle of the Oromo people but it is taken as a terror group by the government of Ethiopia.

In another development, an explosion in a hotel in Ethiopia on Wednesday killed three and wounded five in the southern region of Borana. The government spokesperson said “terrorists” planted the explosive device in the hotel in Negele, without elaborating.

(ST)