Medeshi Sept 29 ,2008Explosion kills 3 in Ethiopia, police blame rebels
(Photo : An Ethiopian policeman directs traffic at a busy intersection in Addis Ababa. File Photo AFP)ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An explosion at a hotel in Ethiopia's southeastern Somali region killed three people and wounded 20 on Sunday, and police said they suspected the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) was responsible.
Police spokesman Densash Hailu said an explosive device had been placed in a dustbin in front of the hotel frequented by businessmen, government officials and locals.
The front of the hotel collapsed and the rest of the building was damaged by the powerful explosion, Densash said. Adjacent buildings were also damaged.
"The terrorist act perpetrated at Andenet Hotel in Jijiga on Sunday is suspected to be the work of the ONLF rebels," Densash told Reuters.
"Some of the injuries are very serious and the death toll is expected to rise."
Jijiga is the capital of the arid, rocky ethnically Somali region that borders lawless Somalia. Ethiopia routinely accuses Horn of Africa rival Eritrea of supporting the ONLF.
The ONLF was formed in 1984. Its aims have varied between full scale independence to joining a "Greater Somalia" to more autonomy within Ethiopia.
ONLF officials were not immediately available for comment.
In June last year Ethiopia launched a military offensive in Ogaden, a province in the Somali region, after ONLF rebels killed 74 people at a Chinese-run oilfield.
Police spokesman Densash Hailu said an explosive device had been placed in a dustbin in front of the hotel frequented by businessmen, government officials and locals.
The front of the hotel collapsed and the rest of the building was damaged by the powerful explosion, Densash said. Adjacent buildings were also damaged.
"The terrorist act perpetrated at Andenet Hotel in Jijiga on Sunday is suspected to be the work of the ONLF rebels," Densash told Reuters.
"Some of the injuries are very serious and the death toll is expected to rise."
Jijiga is the capital of the arid, rocky ethnically Somali region that borders lawless Somalia. Ethiopia routinely accuses Horn of Africa rival Eritrea of supporting the ONLF.
The ONLF was formed in 1984. Its aims have varied between full scale independence to joining a "Greater Somalia" to more autonomy within Ethiopia.
ONLF officials were not immediately available for comment.
In June last year Ethiopia launched a military offensive in Ogaden, a province in the Somali region, after ONLF rebels killed 74 people at a Chinese-run oilfield.
Bomb explosions in Ethiopia in the past few years from the archives
Toll rises to six in Ethiopian blast (September 2008)
Ethiopia says arrests 8 bombers(July 2008)
Blasts Kill 3 at Ethiopian Gas Stations(April 2008)
Eight killed in Ethiopian landmine blast in Humera: state TV(March 2008)
Explosion at Commercial Bank Merkato Branch(March 2008)
Bombs defused in Addis Ababa(September 2007)
Explosion Kills One, Injures Three in Merkato(August 2007)
Three blasts in Jijiga have injured 42 people(May 2006)
Blasts kill six in Ethiopia (April 2006)
Blast in western Ethiopia kills 3, wounds 37(April 2006)
Another mysterious blast strikes Ethiopian capital(April 2006)
Bomb explosion in Ethiopia kills at least one(March 2006)
Three explosions hit Ethiopian capital - police(March 2006)
Ethiopia says arrests 8 bombers(July 2008)
Blasts Kill 3 at Ethiopian Gas Stations(April 2008)
Eight killed in Ethiopian landmine blast in Humera: state TV(March 2008)
Explosion at Commercial Bank Merkato Branch(March 2008)
Bombs defused in Addis Ababa(September 2007)
Explosion Kills One, Injures Three in Merkato(August 2007)
Three blasts in Jijiga have injured 42 people(May 2006)
Blasts kill six in Ethiopia (April 2006)
Blast in western Ethiopia kills 3, wounds 37(April 2006)
Another mysterious blast strikes Ethiopian capital(April 2006)
Bomb explosion in Ethiopia kills at least one(March 2006)
Three explosions hit Ethiopian capital - police(March 2006)
