ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — A bomb exploded Wednesday in a hotel in southern Ethiopia, killing three people and wounding five others, information ministry spokesman Zemedkum Tekle told AFP.

"According to some security reports, there has been an explosion in Negelle Borena today killing three people and injuring five. The government suspects a terrorist group planted a bomb in an hotel in Negelle Borena," he said.

"The government is making every effort to capture those responsible for this attack," he added.

Negelle Borena is a small town located 595 kilometres (320 miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa, in the Oromo region, where rebels have fought for years over claims of marginalisation by the government.

Sat May 24, 2008 2:08pm IST

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - More than 20 people were killed in three days of clashes over land in western Ethiopia last week, police said on Saturday.

Fighting over grazing and farm land is common in the south and west of the Horn of Africa nation.

"A long-standing dispute over land along the border between Oromia and Benishangule states in western Ethiopia erupted into violence claiming the lives of more than 20 people from both sides last week," police spokesman Demsash Hailue told Reuters.

Demsash dismissed local media reports that the fighting between the Oromo and Benishangule ethnic groups killed more than 100 people.

In April, land clashes in the southern Ethiopian town of Wondo-Genet killed 18 people.

VOA News

Humanitarian agencies are rushing emergency aid to drought-stricken central Ethiopia, where a sudden deterioration in food supplies has led to surge of child mortality. At least 23 children have died at hospitals and emergency feeding centers during the past three weeks, and authorities say countless others have died at home for lack of treatment. In this first of two reports from the hardest-hit area around the town of Shashemene 250 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports conditions are expected to worsen over the coming months.

 14 May 2008

 The Ethiopian dictator, Meles Zenawi is proposing a new law to restrict activities of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country. The law would allow a government agency to assign a police officer or an official to attend any NGO's internal meetings without a court order.

It will also authorise the seizing of property, conducting searches and removing NGO staff if their activities are believed to be unlawful.

The law excludes international and non-Ethiopian organisations from democracy, human rights, good governance, and conflict resolution activities.

VOA News

By Peter Heinlein

Addis Ababa
30 April 2008

Ethiopian officials are re-evaluating the need for emergency food aid in light of evidence that drought conditions and food shortages in parts of the country may be worse than estimated. VOA's Peter Heinlein recently visited areas of southern and eastern Ethiopia where the drought threatens to cause widespread famine.

Much of southern Ethiopia has turned a putrid yellowish brown. As far as the eye can see, the grass is dead, long ago eaten down to the nubs by famished animals. The slightest wind raises clouds of dust.

The last two rains have failed, and while there have been some showers lately, the forecast for the next few months is grim.

Borana zone, near Ethiopia's border with Kenya, is home to millions of herders who move from place to place looking for fresh pasture for their livestock. But the cattle are skin and bones. They are dying in droves.

29 April 2008
Posted to the web 29 April 2008

Michael Chebud
Addis Ababa

The Federal High Court has this morning denied bail for the release of Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro). The 30-year-old sensational singer, who is accused of a hit and run homicide, will spend the duration of his trial in prison.

The court has ruled to hear four witnesses- all police constables- referred by the prosecutor against the singer on May 21, 2008. This was despite his defense lawyer Million Assefa's request that the witnesses should testify within a maximum of one week, if not today.

The prosecutor rather requested the bench to be given a reasonable time to summon all the witnesses, and was therefore given 22 days.

The rights group condemned the killing of more than 20 people, including some religious scholars, during the raid.

It quoted witnesses as saying that many of the dead were unarmed civilians, and that some had had their throats cut.

Ethiopia denied its troops were involved in the killings, which came during fierce clashes with insurgents.

"The safety and welfare of the children must be paramount for all parties," said Amnesty's UK Director Kate Allen.

"The UN Security Council must endeavour to investigate human rights violations committed during the armed conflict."

By Jason McLure

April 18 (Bloomberg) -- Ethiopia's annual inflation rate increased to 29.6 percent in March, the highest in over a decade, as rising food costs continued to push up consumer prices.

Inflation expanded from 22.9 percent in February, the Addis Ababa-based Central Statistical Agency said in a report today. Food prices climbed 39.4 percent on an annual basis, from 30.2 percent in February, according to the report.

By Peter Heinlein
VOA
Addis Ababa
15 April 2008

Two bomb blasts in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have killed three people and injured 18 others. VOA's Peter Heinlein in Addis Ababa reports the attacks targeted Ethiopia's national oil company.

The blasts occurred within an hour of each other late Monday at two gas stations operated by the privately-owned National Oil Company in different parts of the Ethiopian capital. In each case, police say an explosive device was planted near a kerosene dispenser.

Among the dead was a 10-year-old girl.

Police immediately sealed off the areas around the blast sites, but witnesses say both explosions caused considerable damage.

An Information Ministry spokesman would not rule out terrorism, but said no one claimed responsibility and no suspects were identified.

Addis Ababa has been the scene of two other bomb blasts in recent weeks, one outside Ethiopia's Commercial Bank and the other near the entrance to the high court

National Oil Company Chief Executive Officer Tadesse Tilahun says the two stations were back in operation Tuesday. He told VOA he is puzzled that oil installations were targeted.