Nine die in Ethiopia attack

The authorities in Ethiopia have blamed fighters from the banned Oromo Liberation Army for an attack that killed nine people in the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa, on Wednesday.

The victims included people working on a bridge construction in Metta Wolkitte district, 100km (62 miles) from the capital, a local administrator, Dirirsa Wakuma, said.

A street trader who was selling coffee was also killed, he added.

“The bandits were repeatedly threatening them to stop working, but he continued as he did not want to lose his job,” a relative of one of the victims said.

Such incidents are not uncommon as federal troops continue to battle armed groups in the western and southern part of the Oromo region.

Officials have said that despite growing security concerns, the incidents would not affect Monday’s election.

BBC/Nneka Ukachukwu