Ethiopian Denies Mosque Killings

April 24, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7364543.stm

Ethiopia has denied accusations from Amnesty International that its troops killed 21 people at a mosque during the recent fighting in Somalia's capital.

Government spokesman Zemedkun Tekle dismissed their report as "mere hearsay and propaganda" coming from Islamists.

Amnesty International said the soldiers also took away 40 children during the raid on the al-Hidaya mosque.

The UN emergency relief co-ordinator John Holmes has called for action against those involved in the attack.

Some 80 people were killed this week during fierce fighting between Ethiopian backed government troops and insurgents in Mogadishu.

Six of the dead are religious leaders from the Tabliq Sufi sect, which is not involved in the conflict.