20110518
Sudan Tribune

Addis Ababa — An Ethiopian rebel group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has alleged government forces killed 100 civilians in the Somali region of southeastern Ethiopia, in a week-long military operation.

"The Ethiopian army and its local conscripts conducted kill-on-sight operations on civilians in the areas of Fafan valley between Babili and Dhegahbur in Ogaden, the army killed 100 civilians from 10 to 15 May in the area. The operation is still ongoing." The group that fights seeking the region's independence from Ethiopia said in a statement on Monday.

The group also said the Ethiopian Army is responsible for the fatal attack on a UN monitoring mission in the region last week. World Food Programme on Saturday confirmed the killing of one of its employee by unknown gun men, another injured and two still remain missing on Friday's ambush.

"The (ONLF) intelligence service has ascertained that the Ethiopian army conducted the killing and abduction of U.N. local staff in the Ogaden jointly with the notorious militia of the local Somali administration," it said.

The claims by the rebel group could not be independently verified as foreign journalists have no access to the troubled Ogaden region.

Government officials could not be reached for comments today, however Addis Ababa has often rejected the rebels claims, saying it is only aimed to attract international attention by creating a false atmosphere of crisis in the region.

Last year the Ethiopian government signed a peace deal with a breakaway faction which claims to be the main body of the ONLF. The peace pact led to the pardon and release of over 100 ONLF rebels.

The ONLF rebel group was responsible for an attack on a Chinese-run oil venture in 2007 which killing 74 people including nine Chinese working for the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration company.