'Floor was covered in blood'

2006-05-12 21:08

Addis Ababa - Nine bombs exploded across Ethiopia's capital on Friday, killing four people and injuring 42 others.

No group has taken responsibility for the blasts.

The explosions were focused on government-owned companies and public transportation.

The attacks come before Monday's anniversary of last year's general election.

International observers have called the balloting seriously flawed, and opposition politicians in the country have refused to take up their posts in protest against what they called government rigging.

Reading a government statement, Ethiopian police spokesperson commander Demsash Hailu said: "This is just a futile attempt to show the impression that there is no peace or tranquility in the city.quot;

Demsash said a special investigative team would track down those responsible.

He set the official toll at four dead, 16 seriously wounded and 26 slightly wounded.

'I was shocked'

Four bombs exploded in the capital on Friday morning, followed by a lull before another five exploded after midday.

Four of the bombs exploded in Addis Ababa's busy Mercato, the main shopping district.

The first blast damaged an Ethiopian Airlines office.

The next blast damaged the headquarters of the city's electricity company, and injured seven. An explosion blew out the front of a city bus. Seven people were injured.

Genet Wordofa, sitting in the hospital next to her injured son, said she was about to get on the bus when it exploded.

"I was shocked because we had just returned from a check-up at a nearby clinic and was about to get on the bus when the explosion occurred," she said. "All of a sudden my son was on the ground bleeding."

Another bomb detonated outside a cafe, killing two people and injuring seven, said witnesses.

Bereket Betiwibid, 15, said he saw patrons knocked out of their chairs and two waitresses thrown across the veranda when the bomb exploded on the pavement outside.

Bomb destroys bus

Tiny holes dotted the walls where bomb fragments had hit and the floor was covered with pools of blood.

A bomb destroyed the rear of a small bus on Friday afternoon. One person died and 16 were injured.

A second afternoon blast destroyed a minibus taxi in front of a secondary school.

Two more bombs detonated near the bus station in the Mercato, one in a public toilet inside a hotel, injuring three, and the second outside a barbershop, injuring two.

A ninth bomb detonated under a bridge.

The groups often blamed for bombings in the country include the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front, two groups fighting for greater autonomy in Ethiopia. Agents from neighboring Eritrea are also frequently blamed.

Ethiopian police have blamed other small bombings in recent months on alleged militant elements of the opposition.

All of the leaders of the country's main opposition parties are currently in prison, standing trial for treason and genocide.

- AP