(Photo: Reuters)
Updated: Thursday, October 20, 2016
The Ethiopian authorities have detained more than 1,600 people under the state of emergency, a government minister has told the BBC.
A statement, quoted by state-affiliated FBC website, lists arrests in the Oromia and Amhara regions, which have recently seen massive demonstrations.
This is in addition to Monday’s arrests of 1,000 people near the capital.
The current unrest is the biggest to hit Ethiopia in more than two decades. (Photo: Reuters)
A six-month state of emergency has been declared in the face of a wave of unprecedented anti-government protests.
Under the emergency measures, people can be detained without an arrest warrant for the duration of the state of emergency.
FBC reports that a total of 1,683 people have been arrested in at least five places, including in Shashamene, 250km (155 miles) south of the capital, Addis Ababa, where 450 people have been detained.
It describes most of those arrested as “suspects in the recent violence” and adds that a large number of looted weapons had also been handed over.
Some business people have been detained for closing their shops, as have three teachers for “abandoning school”.
There is no mention where the people are being held.
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