Ethiopia: 8 killed in protests by backers of activist

ANKARA, Turkey / ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - At least eight people were killed since protests erupted in Ethiopia on Wednesday, the state-affiliated Radio Fana reported on Thursday.

Protests broke out in the Oromia region towns of Shasamene, Dollo and Bishoftu in support of Jawar Mohammed, a high-profile Oromo activist who decried the government revoking a security detail it had previously provided. Some roads were blocked on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa.

Fana has not elaborated on the way victims were killed.

Confrontations occurred between the protestors and supporters of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is currently in Russia attending a summit in the city of Sochi.

Anadolu Agency could not yet verify the incidents from an independent source.

* Seleshi Tessema and Addis Getachew contributed to this story from Addis Ababa