Riot police in Ethiopia's capital opened fire on opposition protesters Tuesday, leaving at least six people dead and dozens of others wounded.
The violence erupted after hundreds of police tried to disperse stone-throwing demonstrators who set up roadblocks and burned tires in the central market Mercato district of Addis Ababa.
The main opposition party CUD says security officers later arrested its two top officials, Berhanu Nega and Hailu Shawel.
The government blamed the opposition for the violence, saying it is part of an overall plan to disrupt Ethiopia.
But an opposition spokesman, Gizachew Shiferaw, accused the authorities of using excessive force.
Tuesday's violence is the worst since June, when security forces shot and killed around 40 opposition supporters.
The opposition has called for renewed protests over alleged fraud in May parliamentary elections. The ruling party has been declared the winner, and opposition members of parliament have refused to take their seats in protest.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters, AP and AFP.
