Ethiopia reveals number of displaced people due to recent ethnic violence

More than 70,000 people have fled ethnically-charged violence in western Ethiopia, officials there said on Tuesday - part of an eruption of unrest that has piled pressure on reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Residents in Benishangul-Gumuz region said violence erupted on Friday after four local officials were killed during a visit to Neighbouring Oromiya region.

Ethnic Oromos living in Benishangul-Gumuz were attacked by members of other groups, and many fled into Oromiya, said residents, who asked not to-be named.

The Oromiya region's administration said on Tuesday that the Number of people who had fled their homes had "passed beyond 70,000".

Abiy - the diverse country's first Oromo leader - came to office in April and turned politics on its head by making peace with long-term foe Eritrea, freeing prisoners and promising a string of sweeping economic and political reforms.

He also promised to ease ethnic tensions and steer the state away from a hardline security policy in place for decades.

But commentators say his easing of Restrictions may have led to Flare-ups of violence over long-standing rivalries between ethnic groups.

Nearly one million people have been forced from their homes in southern Ethiopia since clashes erupted there in April, according to U.N. agencies.