ADDIS
ABABA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Seven people were killed and 12 others
injured in clashes between Christians and Muslims in the eastern
Ethiopian town of Harar, an independent weekly newspaper reported
on Wednesday.
Efoyta
newspaper said the violence, which culminated in a gun fight,
erupted on Friday when a procession by Orthodox Christians
to mark Epiphany passed noisily by a mosque.
Cars
carrying blaring loud speakers accompanied the procession
which interrupted Friday prayers at the mosque, triggering
the fighting, the newspaper reported.
The
two sides fought each other on the streets until they were
subdued by the security forces.
The
newspaper said all the dead, including one member of the security
forces, were killed by gunfire. It was not clear whether the
rioters or the security forces opened fire first.
The
clashes were not reported in the state-owned media. Police
detained 12 people and a joint committee of Muslims and Christians
was investigating the cause of the violence, Efoyta said.
Ethiopia's
population of more than 60 million is split roughly equally
between Muslims and Orthodox Christians. The country is proud
of its history of religious tolerance.
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