LALIBELA,
Northern Ethiopia (Ethiomedia) - Dozens of ruling party officials were killed
and scores of others maimed when a landmine blew up their 45-seater bus near
the historic town of Lalibela on Tuesday, rebel sources told Ethiomedia by
phone on Wednesday.
The victims were all members of the Amhara
National Democratic Movement (ANDM), which is one of the four parties that make
up the EPRDF coalition.
The rebel group Ethiopian Unity and Freedom Force
(EUFF) said the officials were returning to Bahirdar after they had Christmas
celebrations at Checheho Medhanialem Church on the border between Lasta and
Gayint districts.
The news couldn't be verified by an independent
source, though previous reports by the rebel organization have never been
disputed by the government in Addis.
EUFF meanwhile warned civilians to avoid buses and
other means of transportation used by ruling party and government officials.
Last week, at least 20 people were killed and 21
seriously injured when they were trying to put out a fire that had engulfed a
fuel tanker belonging to the ruling party. The tanker had detonated a landmine.
The incident attracted passengers of a bus but couldn't escape death when the
fully-loaded tanker exploded into a fireball and consumed all those who were there
to fight the blaze.
EUFF has stepped up military operations in recent
times, destroying TPLF/EPRDF property and
targetting prisons to free
detained political prisoners.
In Ethiopia, the political repression is so severe
even journalists are convicted in courts as terrorists who are slapped with
long-term prison sentences.
source: http://www.ethiomedia.com/assert/5045.html
