Ethiopian riot police have used force to disperse hundreds of people protesting against targeted attacks on Ethiopian workers in Saudi Arabia.


This comes after Ethiopians gathered outside the Saudi Embassy in Addis Ababa to demonstrate against Riyadh’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The rally was called by the opposition Blue Party Movement after three Ethiopians were killed in Saudi Arabia. The protesters called for boycotting and closing Saudi businesses in their country. Activists say police were quick to break up the illegal protest.

Up to one hundred demonstrators, including the chairman and vice chairman of the opposition group were arrested.

"The police came and they beat us...and now more than 100 people are at the police station," media outlets quoted Getaneh Balcha, a senior member of the opposition party as saying.

Last week, the Ethiopian government confirmed that three of its nationals were killed in clashes with Saudi police.

Their deaths came due to a Riyadh plan to repatriate at least 23-thousand Ethiopian illegal immigrants. Many Ethiopians travel to the Middle East every year to seek jobs.