The protests here are calling on Secretary Rice - I don't know exactly what they're yelling at her, but do you know if she heard them? They're yelling

addis bombs 4
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Daily Press Briefing
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 16, 2006
Journalist Endale Getahun, ECTV NEWS asks a question to Sean McCormack,
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2006/66313.htm

QUESTION: ECTV, Thank you.

QUESTION: Wait. This guy's been waiting for the whole briefing.

QUESTION: ECTV, Yes, sir. Ethiopia, I guess. In the last couple weeks, as you know, there's in the capital city of Addis Ababa, the situation there. And I don't know if you have any information from the Embassy of United States, if you want to comment on that. Also if you have any request from Ethiopian Government regarding the terrorist activity. As you know, the government was accusing the OLF on planting some kind of explosion in Addis Ababa.

MR. MCCORMACK: Right. We -- you know, on the first of those, I don't have any update for you. There were some problems in terms of the governing authority for the city of Addis Ababa being able to do their job. I don't have an update for you on that matter.

As for the explosions, I think that we put something out on that. Let me see if I can try to get --

QUESTION: This was the nine explosions?

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah, it was last week.

QUESTION: Yes, total.

MR. MCCORMACK: We'll get it for you again.

QUESTION: The protests here are calling on Secretary Rice -- I don't know exactly what they're yelling at her, but do you know if she heard them? They're yelling -- they're saying she's letting Ethiopia down on democracy. Do you know if the Secretary has paid any attention to the demonstrations that have been out there the last two mornings?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, she certainly can see them from her window if she looks out the window. I don't know if she saw these particular set of protests. We -- you know, we are doing our part to encourage a healthy democracy in Ethiopia, but fundamentally it comes -- as it does in many other places around the world, it comes down to the leadership, both the government as well as the opposition, to work together on behalf of the Ethiopian people. There are differences, we know. There are questions. We know that. But there are mechanisms to resolve these questions. It requires -- it requires good faith and good will on all sides and what we call upon the leadership -- political leadership of Ethiopia to do is to work together on behalf of their country.

Thank you.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2006/66313.htm