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Riot police have shot dead five people and wounded at least 18 others in clashes with opposition supporters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.
Some 250 riot police went to disperse stone-throwing protesters who had set up roadblocks with burning tiresin the central Mercato area of the city.

These are the first disturbances in the capital since June's post-election protests when some 36 people died.

The main opposition party began fresh protests on Monday over the polls.

"There has been gunfire and rioters are clashing with the police. There are riot police who have been stoned," said Adam Melaku, head of the independent Ethiopia Human Rights Council.

Doctors were quoted as saying that most of the dead had been shot in the chest and those wounded were shot in the legs and arms.

Security forces were trying to prevent journalists from entering hospitals where the wounded have been taken.

But one of the wounded in hospital told AP news agency that police had fired indiscriminately at people on the streets, including those not involved in the protests.

"I was trying to get to work this morning but the road was blocked by riot police. I could see there was beginning to be trouble, so I turned around to go home, but everyone started running and the police started shooting and I was shot in my leg," Bukara Debele said from his hospital bed.

"They were shooting at anyone. People were falling over and screaming and the riot police were hitting them with batons".

Arrests

Opposition protests against election results resumed on Monday.

Police arrested and revoked the licences of 30 taxi drivers who took part.

Information Minister Berhan Hailu blamed the violence on the main opposition party, the CUD.

"The CUD has called for these demonstrations. It is part of their plan to disrupt peace and stability in the country."

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's EPRDF won a majority in polls but the opposition gained many seats.

The Ethiopian government angrily dismissed an assessment by European Union monitors that the elections failed to meet international standards.


Source: BBCWorld