By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Residents of Addis Ababa largely stayed home Friday in a fifth day of renewed protest over the results of May elections the opposition calls fraudulent. There were reports of more scattered gunfire and rioting in parts of the capital.
Diplomats said they had reports of police continuing to round up suspected opposition leaders overnight, perhaps as many as 3,000 people. There were also unconfirmed reports that protests had spread to other parts of the country.
A group of ambassadors from 21 countries that donate large sums of money to Ethiopia issued a statement "expressing deep concern" at the violence, calling for an urgent investigation and recommending the arraignment or immediate release of all political detainees.
Police have killed at least 40 people since violent confrontations began Tuesday, following largely peaceful protests Monday, medical officials said, asking not to be identified for fear of retaliation from government officials.
Government figures place the number of dead at 13 civilians and one police officer, with 54 officers and 28 civilians injured.