Thousands marched through Addis Ababa in the second biggest demonstration ever seen in the Ethiopian capital on Saturday (13 April).

The demonstrators were striking busmen, railwaymen, factory workers and students. They demanded the dismissal of several top transport officials and action against former cabinet ministers. The strikes and troubles of the last two months brought down Prime Minister Aklilou Wold's government.

Saturday's march passed the Jubilee and Grand Palaces and new Prime Minister Endalkache Makonnen's office on the way to the Confederation of Ethiopian Labour building. There was some scuffling among the demonstrators but the march was mainly peaceful and riot police did not try to beak up the crowd.

Two thousands municipal workers including refuse workers and street cleaners worked overtime in Addis Ababa over Easter to clear the huge piles of rubbish which built up during their two week strike. The municipal workers agreed to go back to work after the new government dismissed the Lord Mayor of Addis Ababa Dr. Haile Giorgis Workineh on Thursday.

In an Easter Sunday message, Emperor Haile Selassie said the world wide economic crisis had caused the rice in Ethiopia's cost of living. He warned that if the strikes and unrest continued the country's economy would be in serious jeopardy.

The 81-year-old Emperor also named his grandson Prince Zera-Yacob Asfa Wossen as heir to the throne. Prince Zera-Yacob's father suffered a stroke two years ago.