Attacks kill at least 60 Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, church says

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Two attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region killed at least 60 Orthodox Christians, the country’s Orthodox Church said, urging authorities to protect civilians and bring those responsible to justice.The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Holy Synod said Monday that 14 people were killed in Merti district on Oct. 20 and a further 46 in Shirka district on Oct. 24. Both districts are in Oromia’s Arsi Zone.More than 20 people were seriously wounded and 20 homes were burned down, the church said, describing the killings as “brutal and merciless massacres.”Oromia regional government spokesperson Hailu Adugna blamed the Oromo Liberation Army for the attacks. He accused the rebels and their allies of trying to provoke ethnic and religious conflict to divert attention from military losses in northern Ethiopia. He presented no evidence supporting the accusations in the statement.Adugna expressed sorrow over the deaths and destruction and said regional authorities had begun taking action against those responsible. He pledged assistance to people wounded or displaced.The OLA could not be reached for comment. Its leader, Jaal Marroo, denied that his fighters target civilians in ...