The Ethiopian government arrested 35 people suspected of a coup attempt allegedly backed by an Ethiopian economist now teaching at a US university, a government spokesman said.

Britain has suspended a planned £20m (€30.1m) increase in aid to Ethiopia because of political unrest, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian security forces opened fire today on stone-throwing protesters in the central business district, leaving at least 20 people dead, the independent Ethiopian Human Rights Council said.

Ethiopia’s main opposition coalition said today it will not accept election results for 84 seats that may hold the balance of power in the 547-strong parliament, increasing already high tensions as the nation awaits official results.