ADDIS ABABA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Thursday confirmed that Girma Yeshitila, the head of the ruling Prosperity Party in the northern region of Amhara, was killed by unidentified gunmen.
The senior ruling party official was shot dead by "extremist forces," the Ethiopian Government Communications Service said in a statement.
According to the Amhara regional government, Yeshitila and his security personnel were ambushed by the attackers on the road while traveling to the city of Debre Berhan, about 135 km from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The death toll from the attack has reached five, as four others were also confirmed dead alongside Yeshitila, the regional government said in a statement. It also noted the attackers have not been caught yet, vowing it will spare no effort to bring them to justice. ■