ADDIS ABABA, 22 Feb - (ANA) - Ethiopia's government has dismissed claims in a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report that it is violently suppressing anti-government protests in the Oromia region. Communications Minister Getachew Reda was asked by the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza about HRW's evidence that anti-government demonstrations were continuing, and he said "it is an absolute lie". He acknowledged that there had been trouble, but said attacks against public buildings were carried out by armed gangs "who are trying to stir up emotions in the public". Mr Getachew said that HRW has been "churning out report after report" on Ethiopia without a presence in the country.

He called it a "stroke of magic" for HRW to come up with this report "from half way across the world".  (ANA)

FA/ANA/22 February 2016-----------