ADDIS ABABA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen on Tuesday said the Ethiopian government will strengthen the protection of civilians across vulnerable areas after recurrent killings of civilians.

Mekonnen's comments came amid the continued killing of civilians in western Ethiopia Wollega Zone in the Oromia region, in which the Ethiopian government and survivors have accused the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) fighters of carrying out the attacks.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a rights group established by the Ethiopian parliament, disclosed late Monday that the latest killings started in the early hours of Monday, in which perpetrators are members of the OLA, also known as Shane.

The Ethiopian Deputy PM said in a statement that the terrorist group has continued committing atrocities against "our innocent people" in the Wollega area. He said the latest attack targeted ethnic Amharas as well as ethnic Oromos who were attempting to protect the targeted ethnic Amhara victims.

According to him, the rebel group has identified children, mothers and the elderly as its prime targets and has committed repeated acts of desecration with a clear mission to destabilize the state.

Despite the government's efforts to maintain law and order throughout the country, especially in areas where there is frequent violence, "the terrorist group continues to carry out targeted attacks on innocent civilians in various parts of the country," said the Ethiopian Deputy PM, vowing that the Ethiopian government will intensify its efforts toward the protection of communities across vulnerable areas while also enabling affected communities to protect themselves.

The latest attack is the second recent mass killing of civilians by the rebel OLA, which the Ethiopian parliament designated as a terrorist group in May 2021. A similar armed attack on mainly ethnic Amhara on June 18 in Tole rural locality of Gimbi district, West Wollega zone, had left hundreds dead.

Speaking to journalists last week, Billene Seyoum, a press secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, said the death toll from the June 18 attack was at least 338.

Last week, Legesse Tulu, the Ethiopian government spokesperson, said the joint forces of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), Federal Police and Oromia Special Force were undertaking military measures on members of the terrorist group that have committed "the heinous crimes."

Tulu said the joint forces are also presently hunting for those who have been hiding in forests after the law enforcement operation began. Enditem

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