ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Violence disrupted celebration of the annual Irecha (thanksgiving) festival on Sunday in Oromia Regional Sate of Ethiopia, local media reported on Sunday.
The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), citing a statement from the Government Communication Affairs Office, reported that the celebration could not be completed as planned due to a pre-planned act of violence by 'forces of violence'.
Loss of lives has been sustained by a stampede caused by those forces, according to the statement.
The government has expressed its deepest condolences over the loss of lives and disruption of the ceremony that came about at a time when efforts were intensified to preserve the Irecha festival and get it documented by UNESCO as a world heritage, the statement said.
The government will provide detailed information on the unpleasant incident and bring those responsible before justice, it said.
