Ethiopia: Up to 80 killed in recent violence in Oromia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Up to 80 people have been killed in recent violence in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, said the country’s human rights commissioner on Wednesday.

Daniel Bekele’s remarks came in an interview with Ethiopia's state-run television and aired during prime time news bulletin.

Violence erupted last Wednesday in several places in Oromia, the most populous regional state, after a high-profile Oromo activist Jawar Mohammed signaled his supporters that he was about to be arrested.

A three-day violence ensued in which Jawar’s supporters -- who are mostly unmarried teens, known as Qeeros -- clashed with crowds who came out to challenge them.

Ethiopian federal police denied any attempt at arresting him but they said they had plans to remove his security details.

Bekele said perpetrators should be brought to the court of law.