Soldiers of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces in previous training (French)
Ethiopian soldiers killed more than 50 civilians last week in a town in the Amhara region during house-to-house searches after fighting a local armed group, according to what eyewitnesses told Reuters.
The killings in the town of Merawi appear to be among the bloodiest incidents in the war that broke out last July between the army and the Fano armed group. The United Nations stated in reports last year that this war led to the deaths of more than 200 people.
Spokesmen for the Ethiopian army, government and Amhara region administration have not yet responded to requests for comment on the reported killings in the town of Merawi.
Three residents and a Fano fighter who participated in the fighting said that the killings came after clashes between the army and the armed group last Monday.
All refused to reveal their identities because of their fear of reprisal. Reuters was unable to verify their accounts from independent sources.
Source: Reuters