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            Deadly Protests in Ethiopia Over Plans to Expand Capital

   by VOA News

   Witnesses say Ethiopian police have killed at least 17 protesters
   during demonstrations in Ethiopia's Oromia region against plans to
   annex territory to expand the capital, Addis Ababa.
   Authorities put the protest-related death toll at 11 and have not said
   how the demonstrators were killed. The main opposition party says 17
   people were killed while witnesses and residents say it is much higher.
   Residents say that an elite government security force opened fire on
   protesters at three university campuses.
   The demonstrations erupted last week against plans by the Ethiopian
   government to incorporate part of Oromia into the capital.  Oromia is
   Ethiopia's largest region and Oromos are the country's largest ethnic
   group.
   Oromos say the government wants to weaken their political power. They
   say expanding the capital threatens the local language, which is not
   taught in Addis Ababa schools.
   Ethiopian officials say the master plan for expansion was publicized
   long ago and would bring city services to remote areas.
   They accuse those they call "anti-peace forces" of trying to destroy
   Ethiopia's ethnic harmony.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/deadly-protests-in-ethiopia-over-plan
   s-to-expand-capital/1905867.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/deadly-protests-in-ethiopia-over-plans-to-expand-capital/1905867.html