Ethiopian police detain opposition members after scuffle breaks out at party headquarters

Scuffle breaks out among Ethiopian opposition

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian police detained a dozen opposition party members after a scuffle broke out at the party’s headquarters.

Yeshiwas Assefa said Thursday that his splinter group went to the Unity for Democracy and Justice-Andinet (UDJ) party’s offices to take over the headquarters and then a fight broke out.

Members of the UDJ’s senior leadership could not be reached for comment.

Police confirmed to The Associated Press that 12 people were detained following the incident Wednesday but they declined to comment further. One person was later released on bail.

Ethiopia is due to hold national elections next month. Prime Minister Zenawi Meles and his party first came to power in 1991 when they ousted a Marxist dictator after a 17-year insurgency.