The government appointed Human Rights Commission in Ethiopia has strongly criticised the security forces for beating people and using live bullets against a crowd in the capital, Addis Ababa.
It says at least one person was killed and many others were injured.
People had gathered on Thursday to celebrate a holiday commemorating the country’s victory over Italian invaders in the late 19th Century at the Battle of Adwa.
Tear gas was fired inside one of the city’s historic Orthodox Christian churches.
The Ethiopian authorities have been reluctant to allow crowds on the streets since protests were called following a split in the influential Orthodox Church.
For three weeks most social media platforms have been blocked.
