Two blasts hit Ethiopian capital, 7 injured

ADDIS ABABA, May 12 (Reuters) Two explosions hit Addis Ababa early today, damaging the offices of the national airline and another government building and injuring seven people, witnesses said.

The first blast occurred at 5 am (0730 hrs IST) at the Ethiopian Airlines office. The second hit the state electricity company headquarters 200 metres away several hours later. Seven people were injured in that blast, the witnesses said.

Police kept crowds away from the scene, and traffic flowed normally in the Ethiopian capital.

It was the latest in a wave of mysterious attacks on Addis Ababa that have escalated since January, targeting public buildings and hotels.

In March a series of five blasts in one day killed one person and injured at least 14 others.

Although grenade attacks to settle scores are relatively common in Ethiopia, the unexplained blasts have increased tension in Addis, which has been shaken by two bouts of unrest in the wake of disputed parliamentary elections last year.

Reuters PR DS1530