(BBC News) — More than 50 people have been killed as they attended a religious festival in the Oromiya region of Ethiopia. Thousands of people had gathered including anti-government protestors. The Ethiopian prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, has blamed rioters for a stampede and denied reports that the security forces opened fire. Some activists claims the death toll is much higher.
Dr Yohannes Woldemariam, is a Professor of Political Science and follows events in Ethiopia.

(Picture – Men wash the face of a woman after police fired tear gas at Irreechaa in Bishoftu. Credit: Zacharias Abubeker/AFP/Getty Images)