Addis Ababa - The United States says it "strongly disagrees" with Ethiopia's new state of emergency, saying the answer to the country's sometimes violent unrest is "greater freedom, not less". The statement by the US Embassy comes a day after the east African nation announced its latest months-long state of emergency amid the worst anti-government protests in a quarter-century. But on Thursday the prime minister announced he had submitted his letter of resignation, saying he hoped it would help planned reforms succeed. The state of emergency, which effectively bans protests, will be presented for lawmakers' approval within 15 days. Ethiopia's cabinet on Friday cited deaths, ethnic attacks and mass displacement as reasons for the latest state of emergency.

Source: Ethiopian News February 18, 2018 08:03 UTC