Attack On Chinese Oil Field Leaves 74 Dead
A Chinese oil field was left crushed after a brutal attack by groups of separatist rebel gunmen, leaving 74 dead and 7 workers kidnapped.
Guerillas murdered 74 workers in their sleep at a Chinese oil field left destroyed in eastern Ethiopia. 65 of those murdered were Ethiopian and 9 were Chinese. Seven Chinese workers and 'scores' of Ethiopians were also kidnapped from the site near Jijga in the attack by the Ogaden National Liberation Front, which is is now fighting for the independence of Ethnic Somalians in Ethiopia's eastern area.
This attack happened at around 5 am, on Tuesday 24/04/07. "Such an outrage, the cold-blooded murder of people who were building roads and engaged in other development activities, is a measure of the level of barbarity involved. We are terribly distressed, no stone will be left unturned until we have found the people responsible," Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told a news conference. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the attack had involved more that 200 gunmen.
The ONLF in a statement said it attacked Ethiopian soldiers guarding an oil exploration field in Northern Ogaden region. "The oil facility has been completely destroyed," a member of the ONLF had commented. Apparently, government forces in the area had been wiped out, with many surrendering to ONLF commandos. Further questioning will be issued.
This attack happened at around 5 am, on Tuesday 24/04/07. "Such an outrage, the cold-blooded murder of people who were building roads and engaged in other development activities, is a measure of the level of barbarity involved. We are terribly distressed, no stone will be left unturned until we have found the people responsible," Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told a news conference. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the attack had involved more that 200 gunmen.
The ONLF in a statement said it attacked Ethiopian soldiers guarding an oil exploration field in Northern Ogaden region. "The oil facility has been completely destroyed," a member of the ONLF had commented. Apparently, government forces in the area had been wiped out, with many surrendering to ONLF commandos. Further questioning will be issued.