Ethiopia Political Protests Deadly

Medical Officials Claim Police Killed 40 Since Violence Began

(AP) 
European Union chief election observer Ana Gomes sent an urgent appeal to EU governments and the Commission to act to end the "bloodbath."

"Stop the killing of Ethiopians who dare to believe that democracy is possible in Ethiopia," she said in the letter obtained by The Associated Press.

"Most ironic is that Europe counts in Ethiopia, a country which depends on European aid, the largest recipient in Africa. Europe could definitely make the difference for democracy in Ethiopia," Gomes said. "Instead, current European leaders are choosing to fail it. In doing so, they are not just failing Ethiopians. They are also failing Europe."

The May 15 election had been seen as a test of Meles' commitment to reform. Meles was appointed to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to his Commission for Africa to help draft a blueprint for ending poverty and building democracy. But at home his government has little tolerance for dissent and has been accused of severe human rights abuses.

Ethiopian special forces armed with heavy machine guns and sniper rifles patrolled Addis Ababa in Humvees and armored personnel carriers. Opposition supporters went from shop to shop, ordering merchants to shut down and go home. Taxis were off the streets, and diplomats reported gunfire near the British and Vatican embassies. Protesters threw stones at buses near the Canadian Embassy in a different part of the city, witnesses said.

Amid the protests, a New York-based media watchdog said authorities have threatened to arrest journalists and made statements that could endanger independent reporters in the capital. The government also appears to be using state media to smear foreign and independent media.

Civil society leaders have also been detained during a crackdown on organizations suspected of not being pro-government.