At least seven Orthodox churches have been attacked and set on fire, and six priests and several faithful have been killed in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

Clashes began at the end of last week, when armed men of the Liyu militia, of ethnic Somali and under the orders of Abdi Illey (President of the Somali Region) tried to interrupt a meeting between members of the regional parliament and representatives of the city of Dire Daua, with the intent of denouncing the violation of human rights in the region.