Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia acknowledged Thursday that security forces killed 193 civilians protesting election fraud last year but insisted excessive force was not used.
The figure – three times an earlier official toll – had been revealed last week by a senior judge who accused the government of trying to cover up the findings.
Mekonnen Disasa, the newly appointed head of the inquiry board, was the only member to appear before reporters Thursday. He refused to take questions after his presentation, during which he said security forces used reasonable force to quell post-election disturbances.
“The measures that were taken by the security forces for stopping the violence that occurred was legal and essential on the basis of defending the new system of government, as well protecting the country from endless violence,” said the report into the June and November 2005 killings.
Six policemen also were killed, according to the 10-page report, bringing the overall death toll to 199 – three times the official death toll of 66.
The new report did, however, say there were some human rights violations but did not elaborate on what they were. It also stated 30,000 people were arrested during the protests.
Wolde-Michael Meshesha, a vice chairman of the 10-member inquiry who was appointed to investigate the violence, last week accused the government of trying to suppress results of the probe.
