Ethiopian military takes over troubled south

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The Ethiopian military has taken over security in the troubled south where dozens have died amid soaring ethnic tensions, the government said late on Monday.

Since last Thursday, the Sidama zone has witnessed pro-statehood Sidama youths clashing with security forces.

Sidama, the largest of 56 ethnic groups in the Southern Ethiopia Nations, Nationalities and Peoples regional state, has demanded to be granted statehood status. The government has okayed it setting a five-month period for a referendum.

The regional government said in a statement the situation had got beyond control of the local security apparatus and as of Monday all zones will be watched over temporarily by the federal military and security forces, the Ethiopian News Agency reported.