Rebel tanks rumbled along Addis Ababa's graceful Menelik II Avenue yesterday as the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) established its hold on power after a brief but fearsome dawn assault on the Ethiopian capital.
As calm began to return, stunned residents appeared on the streets ignoring an earlier EPRDF warning to observe a 24-hour curfew. "We think it's safe now," said one man.
There was no open rejoicing, only relief that the rebel takeover had not resulted in widespread bloodshed. The Ethiopian Red Cross estimated last night that more than 200 people had been killed, mainly thought to have been government soldiers at the presidential palace, and up to 750 injured.
