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Internet shutdown ends as protests continue in Ethiopia 

Internet and telephone services have been restored in Ethiopia, two days after they were reportedly disrupted by the authorities following the eruption of anti-government protests in the north-western and southern regions.

Media reports indicate that internet and phone services were interrupted in reaction to the protests in Amhara in the north-west) and Oromiya in the south.

BBC Monitoring observed that nearly all Ethiopian media sources - state and private - based inside the country did not update their websites on 6 and 7 August. Some of the websites have started updating today.

There has been no official comment by the government on the alleged shutdown, but international and opposition media outlets operating inside Ethiopia reported problems accessing the internet.

Opposition media accused the authorities of disrupting the telecom systems as part of efforts to crackdown on the protests.

The website of the exiled opposition Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) said on 7 August that the services "were cut off by the regime in Bahir Dar and Gonder."

Source:bbc.om