ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers on Wednesday staged a rare protest in the capital Addis Ababa over "inadequate" salary and benefits, briefly blocking a road around the national palace.
Mobile and Wi-Fi internet connection was cut for several hours as confusion and rumors gripped the capital.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held discussions with the protesting soldiers to hear their grievances, state media outlets reported later Wednesday.
Zeynu Jemal, head of Ethiopia Federal Police Commission, told the media that the protest by around 240 soldiers created a brief standoff with other security forces around the national palace.
The protesting soldiers initially wanted an audience with the prime minister while being armed, but after negotiations, they were allowed to meet with Ahmed without holding their weapons, said Jemal.
The Ethiopian army, one of the strongest and largest in Africa, is known for strict discipline, and protests by soldiers is practically unheard of in the east African country in recent years.
