by Our Foreign Desk

OVER 100,000 people marched through central Addis Ababa yesterday in protest at the murder of Ethiopian Christians in Libya.

They also denounced their own government for its failure to raise living standards of the poor, with poverty fuelling the flow of migrants through dangerous areas.

The march turned violent in Meskel Square as stone-throwing protesters clashed with the police, who arrested at least 100.

Protesters chanted: “We want revenge for our sons’ blood,” referring to Ethiopians seen being beheaded or shot in a video released on Sunday by Islamic State (Isis).

The victims are widely believed to have been captured in Libya while trying to reach Europe.

Ahaza Kassaye, the mother of a victim identified as Eyasu Yikunoamlak, said that she was overwhelmed by the massive turnout.

“I’m happy now. I’m very happy.

“I was just mourning the death of my son with family members and my neighbours. I never expected this to happen,” she said.

Ms Ahaza said she hoped that the government would react to the killings by closing all illegal border crossings and arresting suspected human traffickers.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that, while poverty was the root cause of the migrations, smugglers were to blame for encouraging poor people to pursue what he called “the death journey.”

Ethiopia’s parliament began debating a possible response to the Isis killings on Tuesday, but it remains unclear if military action is an option.

The government has announced three days of nationwide mourning over the killings.