Ethiopian army chief, regional president killed in unrest

Ethiopia's army chief and the president of a key region have been shot dead in a wave of violence highlighting the political instability in the country as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tries to push through reforms.

Prime Minister's office spokesperson Billence Seyoum said today that the latest unrest in the Horn of Africa nation flared yesterday in Amhara, one of nine autonomous regions, when a hit squad attacked a meeting of top officials.

She told journalists that the attack was led by Amhara's security chief Asaminew Tsige, and resulted in regional president Ambachew Mekonnen and another top official being shot. 

She said, the men were gravely



injured in the attack and later died of their wounds.

She further said that several hours later in what seems like a coordinated attack, the chief of the staff of the national security forces Seare Mekonnen was killed in his home by his bodyguard in the capital Addis Ababa.

Also shot dead was a retired general who had been visiting him. Sources said, the bodyguard has been apprehended while Asaminew is still on the loose. 

The link between the two attacks were not immediately clear. The internet has been cut nationwide since last evening, after being severed for much of the previous week.