International News

ADDIS ABABA, Oct 17, (APP/AFP) – Ethiopia has banned access to foreign-based opposition media and restricted foreign diplomats’ travel, in new provisions of a state of emergency. The government declared the six-month state of emergency eight days ago, stepping up its response to an unprecedented wave of protests against its authoritarian rule which has left hundreds dead. New restrictions published in local media on Sunday also include a 50-kilometre (30-mile) “red zone” adjacent to the country’s borders in which it is illegal to carry firearms. The areas around several key roads have also been declared red zones. Foreign diplomats are forbidden from travelling more than 40 kilometres outside the capital, Addis Ababa, “for their own security”. “This is a state of emergency and we expect repressive measures,” a western diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity on Monday. “But we also expect an opening of the political space for the opposition as stated by the president in front of the parliament. This is not what seem to be happening,” the diplomat added. The measures include a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew around factories, farms and government institution, which have come under attack from protesters in recent weeks. Political parties are “banned from giving press statements that incite violence” and religious leaders are forbidden from making political statements. Security forces are banned from going on holiday or resigning their jobs.