Ethiopian Army chief shot dead during failed coup attempt

Addis Ababa : The chief of staff of the Ethiopian army was shot dead during a coup attempt in the northern Amhara region, the Prime Minister's office announced on Sunday on state television.

General Seare Mekonnen died after being shot while trying to prevent the coup attempt on Saturday night, in which another military chief, General Gezai Abera, also died, the office said on state television ETV.

The president of Amhara region, Ambachew Mekonnen, as well as his adviser, Ezez Wasie, were also shot dead in their office in the regional capital, reports Efe news.

The coup against the government of this region, the second largest ethnic group in the country, began late Saturday in the capital, Bahir Dar, and was thwarted soon after by the federal security forces, the prime minister's spokesman, Nigussu Tilahun, announced on ETV.

"The coup attempt in Amhara regional state is against the constitution and is intended to scupper the hard-won peace of the region," the prime minister's office said in an initial statement.

"This illegal attempt should be condemned by all Ethiopians and the federal government has full capacity to overpower this armed group," it added, without specifying who was behind the attempt.