Three days of mourning after 52 die in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government has declared three days of national mourning following the deaths of at least 52 people in a stampede that occurred during a protest at a religious festival in the Oromia region on Sunday.


It is however not yet clear what caused the deaths.
In a statement released on Ethiopia’s state broadcaster, the government said the mourning is meant to “commemorate innocent citizens who lost their lives because of the violence instigated by anti-peace forces”.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn earlier blamed rioters for the “mayhem” which led to a stampede.
Opposition activists however say the panic was triggered by security forces that fired teargas canisters and bullets into the large crowd that had gathered for a thanksgiving ceremony.