100 killed in attack at Ethiopian village

NAIROBI, Kenya－More than 100 people have been killed in the latest attack along ethnic lines in western Ethiopia, the country's federal rights group said on Wednesday.

The attack in the Metekel zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz region occurred a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the region and spoke about the need to end such massacres.

Ethnic tensions are a major challenge as he tries to promote national unity in a country with more than 80 ethnic groups.

The attacks are separate from the deadly conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, where Ethiopian forces and allied regional forces began fighting Tigray regional forces in early November, The Associated Press said.

Survivors had "disturbing photo evidence" of the attack on sleeping residents, which began in the early hours of Wednesday and continued until afternoon, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, a federal rights group established by the Ethiopian parliament, said in a statement.

The incident revealed "the ever deteriorating human rights protection in the region", the commission warned, adding that "attacks have intensified in appearance and scale recently".

The ruling party in the region, the Benishangul-Gumuz Prosperity Party, said in a statement that armed bandits had committed a "horrifying crime".

Later on Thursday, Fana TV reported that Ethiopia's military had killed 42 armed men who took part in the massacre.

Soldiers seized bows and arrows and other weapons from the men, Fana said, citing regional officials.

Xinhua - Agencies