1.
GV PAN Premier greeted by police officers
0.13

2.
GV Police on parade
0.16

3.
SV premier speaking
0.21

4.
BV Premier addressing parade
0.29

5.
LV Premier speaking PULL BACK TO police listening (2 shots)
0.42

6.
LV Premier speaks
0.50

7.
SV Premier on dais
0.51

8.
GV Police cheering
0.54

9.
SV Premier, and police disperse (2 shots)
1.04



Initials BB/1530 TH/CD/BB/1611



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Ethiopian Police Force was reminded of its heavy responsibility in maintaining law and order during the current unrest by Prime Minister Endalkachew Makonnen on Friday (19 April). He was addressing an Addis Ababa parade of 2,500 officers and men, representing various police units and task forces.

During his address, the Prime Minister said that every Ethiopian wanted to see peace and tranquility restored to the country. It was imperative for the police forces to maintain law, while the government carried out its reform programme.

He spoke out against "unjustified" strikes and illegal work stoppages, referring specifically to strikes by civil servants which ended in the capital earlier in the week -- after the strikers had forced the dismissal of top officials, including the capital's Mayor.

But the Prime Minister made no reported reference to another incident last week, when police opened fire on demonstrating workers and students in the eastern town of Diredawa, wounding six people.