"The students were planning to peacefully demonstrate over the deteriorating condition on campus - particularly related to unhygienic meals which had repeatedly endangered their health. Student calls for safe meals fell on deaf ears, which led the students to organizing protest rallies," Menelik newspaper reported today.

The paper said the students ignored government calls to vacate the campus, and when they were surrounded by security forces, they left their dormitories and took shelter at St. George's Church in the city. "City residents are doing what they can to feed the students," Menelik added.

Under the EPRDF regime, university students have been eyed as enemy troops, and were often subjected to brutal treatments, expulsions and mass killings. It is to be recalled over 40 Addis Ababa University students were gunned down in peaceful protests in April 2001, and the university was shut down for about a year before it opened doors under strict conditions.