ADDIS ABABA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Police in Ethiopia's Southern regional state have arrested 257 individuals suspected of involvement in deadly riots earlier this month that swept parts of the country, the state-owned Ethiopia News Agency said on Friday.
Efeson Lakaito, Deputy Commander, Wolaita zone police department, Southern regional state, said the suspects are accused of participating in riots that killed three people, left more than 40 people injured and caused the destruction of more than 70 cars.
Woalita Sodo University, Sodo agricultural institute and a local branch of a regional small and micro financial institution were set alight and robbed during the riots.
Lakaito said the suspects are accused of taking advantage of a peaceful protest in Wolaita Sodo city called to protest attacks on Wolaitas in other parts of the region by engaging in arson and violence.
He further said police have been able to return 72,000 U.S. dollars' worth of properties stolen during the riots.
Several days of clashes involving ethnic Sidamas and ethnic Wolaitas in capital of Southern regional state, Hawassa city, earlier this month left around 10 people dead and 89 others injured.
Retaliatory violence in Wolaita Sodo city, Southern regional state dominated by ethnic Wolaitas left three people dead and 10 others injured.
Ethnic Sidamas and ethnic Wolaitas are one of the more numerous ethnic groups in Southern regional state and have history of tension spilling occasionally into deadly communal violence, reportedly over land rights and economic resources.
