Gunmen 'kill 74' in Ethiopian oil field

Gunmen have reportedly killed 74 people in an Ethiopian oil field operated by a Chinese company.

Gunmen have reportedly killed 74 people in an Ethiopian oil field operated by a Chinese company.

China's Xinhua news agency reported that 65 Ethiopians and at least nine Chinese workers were killed.

A company official said another seven Chinese workers were kidnapped by about 200 gunmen who raided the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau site in Abole, a small town in western Ethiopia's Somali state, Xinhua said.

The Chinese news agency said the gunmen briefly took control of the working field after exchanging fire with more than 100 Ethiopian soldiers guarding the area.