'Mass Arrests' In Ethiopia

More than 2,600 people have been arrested in Ethiopia's Oromia region in the last three weeks to prevent further protests, an opposition group has said.

In January, Ethiopia scrapped plans to incorporate parts of the region into the capital, Addis Ababa, following widespread protests which, according to activists, led to about 200 people being killed by the security forces.

Although the authorities also promised not to prosecute those arrested, 2,627 people have been "illegally rounded up" in the last three weeks, the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Medrek) is quoted by Reuters as saying.


"The whole purpose [behind] why they are increasing their witch-hunt is to simply stop the public from planning or initiating any future public protest," its chairman Beyene Petros told the agency.

The government has not yet commented on the allegation.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has previously blamed "anti-peace forces" for the unrest, and has disputed claims that some 200 protesters have been killed.