The Sidama, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia's southern region, have been agitating for their own semi-autonomous state [Tiksa Negeri/Reuters]
At least three people have died in Ethiopia's southern city of Hawassa, hospital authorities said, amid a showdown between state security forces and local activists who want a separate region for their Sidama ethnic group. Security forces carried out arrests as violence spread to districts outside the regional capital on Friday during a second day of protests, state media reported. Hawassa Referral Hospital has received 13 injured civilians in the last two days, three of whom died, general manager Zinaw Serniso told Reuters News Agency. A man who was shot in the head died on Thursday, while two more shot in the leg and abdomen died on their way to the hospital on Friday, said Serniso. Some of the wounded had fractured bones after being hit with batons and others had been shot, he added. Sidama activists have accused the security forces of opening fire on protesters who set tyres alight and threw stones.