Ethiopian Muslims mark anniversary of year-long protests

Thousands of Ethiopian Muslims took to the streets of Addis Ababa on Friday to mark the anniversary of a year of protests. The east-African country's Muslims have staged sporadic street protests in the capital since January 2012, arguing that the government is promoting an 'alien branch of Islam', the Al Ahbash sect, which is avowedly apolitical and has numerous adherents in the United States. The government denies promoting Al Ahbash, but is determined to prevent Islamic militancy spilling over from neighbouring Sudan or lawless Somalia. Around 60 percent of Ethiopians are Christian and 30 percent Muslim, mostly of the moderate, pragmatic Sufi tradition. Diplomats and analysts say there could be potential for any militant groups to exploit sectarian divisions and trigger violence. The government accuses "extremist elements" of sparking violence at the protests. (NewsPoint)