Ethiopia rejects allegations its forces massacred civilians as the West urges an investigationEthiopia's government on Thursday dismissed allegations its soldiers massacred scores of civilians last month in the country's restive Amhara region as the West is demanding an investigation into the killings.
Ethiopia's state-appointed human rights commission says troops killed at least 45 civilians in the Amhara town of Merawi following clashes with a local militia in January. Another national rights body put the death toll at over 80.
Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu told that there was fighting in Merawi but insisted the military "did not target any civilians."
Legesse said soldiers entered civilian homes to conduct searches after the fighting and acted in "self-defense" when "they were fired upon again" by armed elements.
The United Kingdom urged a full investigation into events in Merawi, a day after the European Union called for a probe and dialogue to resolve the conflict in Amhara.
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