Gunmen attack Chinese oil company's field in Ethiopia, several workers injured (many reported dead)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Gunmen attack Chinese oil company's field in Ethiopia, several workers injured

The Associated Press
Published: April 24, 2007

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: Unidentified gunmen attacked a Chinese oil
company's field in eastern Ethiopia early Tuesday, injuring several
workers, a Chinese Embassy official said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on the oil
field, located in the disputed Somali Regional State, also known as
the Ogadan region, bordering Somalia.

Several Chinese workers were injured in the morning attack, "but we
do not know the exact number," said Sun Qing, a political officer at
the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa. "The situation is not clear, and
we are working to get more details."

The Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry was expected to make a statement
within hours, the embassy official said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/24/africa/AF-GEN-Ethiopia-China-Oil-Attack.php

---

Source: Xinhua

9 Chinese workers killed in attack in Ethiopia's Somalia state

At least nine Chinese workers were killed on Tuesday morning when a
group of unidentified gunmen attacked a Chinese oil company's working
field in Ethiopia's Somalia state, said Xu Shuang, the acting manager
of the company.

Another seven Chinese workers were kidnapped by the gunmen, according
to Xu, who works for the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau under
the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation.

The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia confirmed the attack, in which 65
Ethiopian employees were also killed.

Source: Xinhua


Link: http://english.people.com.cn/200704/24/eng20070424_369346.html

[C_U_L8R]

1. So... by Topsy-Turvy Bushian Logic...

China has the right to invade Ethiopia, topple it's government
and turn the whole country into a bloody slaughterhouse so they can
fight them there instead of fighting them...er... there

[lakeguy]

2. and also by bushian logic...

they are clearly winning at whatever they are doing because attacks are up and the "enemy" is getting desperate.

[Eugene]

3. 74 dead at Chinese-run Africa oil field

Source: Associated Press

74 dead at Chinese-run Africa oil field

By ANITA POWELL, Associated Press Writer
34 minutes ago

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Gunmen raided a Chinese-run oil field
in eastern Ethiopia on Tuesday, killing 65 Ethiopians and nine
Chinese workers, an official of the Chinese company said.

Seven Chinese workers were kidnapped in the morning attack
at the oil installation in a disputed region near the Somali
border,Xu Shuang, the general manager of Zhongyuan
Petroleum Exploration Bureau, told The Associated Press.

-snip-

No one claimed responsibility for Tuesday's raid, but an
Ethiopian rebel group warned last year that any investment
in the Ogden area that also benefited the Ethiopian
government "would not be tolerated."

The Ogaden National Liberation Front is fighting a low-level
insurgency with the aim of creating an independent state
for ethnic Somalis. Somalia lost control of the region in a war
in 1977.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070424/ap_on_re_af/ethiopia_china_oil_attack

[oberliner]

4. Gunmen Kill at Least 69 in Attack on Oilfield in Ethiopia

BEIJING, April 24 -- Gunmen attacked a Chinese-run oilfield in Ethiopia early Tuesday, killing at least nine Chinese and more than 60 Ethiopian workers, according to the New China News Agency.

The official agency, in a dispatch it said was confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, reported more than 100 Ethiopian soldiers beat back the attackers in nearly an hour of shooting. The battle took place just after dawn in an oilfield at Abole, a small town the agency said lies 90 miles from Jijiga in Ethiopia's Somali State near the border with Somalia.

Xu Shuang, acting manager of the Zongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau of the China Petroleum and Chemical Corp., told the agency that, in addition to the fatalities, seven Chinese employees were believed kidnapped by the withdrawing assailants. He did not provide any casualty estimates for the Ethiopian soldiers guarding the oilfield.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042400604.html

[ohio2007]

5. China has many oil interests in Africa

They may need to hire a few security guards from "Yellow Water"to protect their vast oil interests in many countries.

No doubt this will get a buck or two added to the price of a bbl of black gold.

[Eugene]

6. Kidnapped Chinese workers freed in Ethiopia: rebels

Source: Agence France-Presse

Kidnapped Chinese workers freed in Ethiopia: rebels

50 minutes ago

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Seven Chinese workers captured in an attack
on an oil venture in Ethiopia last week have been released, their
kidnappers told AFP on Sunday.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) group had said Friday
that China was not the target of the raid.

"Chinese citizens were not the target of our attack and their deaths
resulted from munitions exploding during the battle (with troops
guarding the site)," the ONLF said in an open letter to the Chinese
government, sent to AFP by email.

The ONLF claimed responsibility for Tuesday's dawn attack on the
Chinese-run oil venture in Ogaden, where the separatist group is
fighting for the independence of ethnic Somalis.

"The ONLF would like to assure the people of China that your
citizens are safe, healthy and well treated," the letter said.


Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070429/wl_africa_afp/ethiopiaunrestoil_070429123624