Ethiopia army chief killed in 'coup' bid

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's army chief and a local leader have been shot dead during a coup attempt to overthrow a regional government in the north of the country.

Violence flared on Saturday afternoon in Amhara, one of nine autonomous regions, when a "hit squad" attacked a meeting of top government officials, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office said on Sunday.

Spokeswoman Billene Seyoum told journalists that the "coup attempt" in Amhara was led by local security chief Asaminew Tsige, who was only last year released from almost a decade in prison following a 2009 coup plot.

State President Ambachew Mekonnen and an adviser were "gravely injured in the attack and later died of their wounds", Seyoum said, adding that the regional attorney-general had been seriously wounded.

"Several hours later in what seems like a coordinated attack, the chief of the staff of the national security forces, Seare Mekonnen, was killed in his home by his bodyguard", the spokeswoman said.

Asaminew was killed in a firefight with security forces on Monday on the outskirts of Bahir Dar, capital of Amhara, said Nigussu Tilahun, spokesman for the Ethiopian prime minister's office.

Seare and a visiting retired general were shot dead in his home in the upmarket Bole district of Addis Ababa, home to diplomats, aid workers and expats.

The bodyguard has been apprehended.

There was a heavy police presence outside Seare's house on Sunday, as mourners, some dressed in black, streamed to his house to pay their respects.

A parking attendant, who asked not to be named, said he heard about 10 minutes of gunfire at the residence at 9 pm local time on Saturday before security officers arrived.

Gedrekiristos Tessaye, 30, said he had come to pay respects to honor Seare's service to the country.

"I am so worried, I want Ethiopia to be an ambassador of peace and democracy but this kind of event shows that we are heading to anarchy," he said.

Elsewhere in the capital it appeared to be a normal, quiet Sunday, with shops and restaurants open. However, there was heavy security outside Abiy's offices.

According to the statement from Abiy's office, the situation in Amhara region was "currently under full control".

The prime minister took to national television in military fatigues in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"The people of Ethiopia do not believe in silencing, killing and claiming power by spilling the blood of their brothers and sisters," he said.

"They don't accept totalitarian regimes. They've shown that through a common struggle."

A statement read on state television on Sunday night from Parliament Speaker Tagesse Chafo called for the country to "stay together and united" as he announced a national day of mourning.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply concerned" about the deadly violence, his spokesman said.

Guterres "calls on all Ethiopian stakeholders to demonstrate restraint, prevent violence and avoid any action that could undermine the peace and stability of Ethiopia", spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Afp - Xinhua - Ap

(China Daily 06/25/2019 page11)