Ethiopian police and Muslim worshippers clash in Addis Ababa

The incident occured exterior the worldwide stadium within the coronary heart of the capital, throughout prayers.

Muslim worshippers pray through the Eid al-Fitr morning prayer sermon in Addis Ababa [Amanuel Sileshi/AFP]

Ethiopian police used tear fuel to disperse younger Muslims in Addis Ababa throughout prayers to mark the tip of Ramadan within the capital.

The incident occurred exterior the worldwide stadium within the coronary heart of town, the place prayers have been scheduled to have a good time the Eid al-Fitr vacation on the finish of the Muslim holy month.

Unable to realize entry as a result of the stadium was full, some worshippers started to hope exterior, in Meskel Sq..

A member of the Addis Ababa Excessive Council of Islamic Affairs advised the AFP information company that the reason for the confrontation was unclear.

Nonetheless, tensions have been excessive within the nation after the deaths of at the very least 20 folks final month in Gondar, a city within the northwestern area of Amhara, when Muslims have been attacked by heavily-armed “extremist Christians”, in response to native Muslim teams.

A policeman fired tear fuel on the crowd however “it was unintentional,” the official stated, quoting volunteers on the web site.

“The policeman was evacuated by different policemen, however folks have been shocked and a few began to chant slogans… the scenario turned uncontrollable.”

‘Riot’ and restoration of order

Addis Ababa police issued an announcement saying “a riot” had been attributable to a “few people” and led to property injury, however order had now been restored.

“[The] police are calling on the group to stay calm,” it stated.

Stone-throwing demonstrators additionally smashed home windows at a nationwide museum on Meskel Sq. earlier than calm was restored, studies stated.

The Addis Ababa official advised AFP that Eid al-Fitr prayers had taken place within the metropolis yearly because the finish of the Marxist-military Derg authorities in 1991.

“That is the primary time such incidents occur,” the official stated, including that the Muslims attending the ceremonies have been unarmed, as everybody was searched by police earlier than they entered the venue.

“Muslims need this pageant to cross in peace,” the official stated.

Ethiopia, a heterogenous mixture of ethnicities, is majority Christian whereas roughly a 3rd of the inhabitants is Muslim.