Heavy police presence at Ethiopian protest in west Edmonton

July 21, 2013 | Yahoo News

A heavy police presence has formed outside of the Belmead Community League in western Edmonton where about a group of protesters has gathered to rally against the Ethiopian government.

The CBC's Matthew Kupfer reports that police are keeping media away from the community hall at the centre of the protest, but he can see more than half a dozen police and emergency vehicles on the scene.

He says police officers are now standing between the protesters and the building.

EPS spokesperson Patrycia Thenu said the crowd outside the building has grown to about 100.

EPS is also reporting another 40 to 60 people are inside the building.

Kupfer reports that the protesters heard representatives from the Ethiopian government were going to be meeting at the community league to discuss selling bonds for a dam project in Ethiopia.

Protesters told him they were there to try to stop the meeting.

Many in the crowd are waving flags and holding placards calling for justice and freedom in Ethiopia, where many says they still have friends and family.

A similar protest took place last month in Calgary when the Ethiopian Consul General gave a presentation at the downtown Ramada Hotel about a dam development project.

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