Ethiopia mourns Christians killed by IS

Cherkos (Ethiopia): In impoverished Cherkos village, near Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, friends and families of Balcha Belete and Eyassu Yekunoamlak, two people believed to have been killed by Islamic State (IS) terrorists, were inconsolable and the entire village was plunged in grief. Belete and Yekunoamlak, like so many intending migrants who have left the continent in search of a better life, had left Ethiopia two months ago with the aim of reaching Europe.

They were believed to have travelled to Libya through Sudan, and from Libya, they planned to take a boat to Europe but were seized by IS militants, the victims' relatives said.

Ethiopians are mourning its nationals executed by the IS terrorist group in Libya after a video released on Sunday appeared to show militants killing about 30 Ethiopian Christians.

Even until a month back, the victims used to communicate with their family members over the phone, but after reaching Libya all channels of communication were disconnected, according to Seyoum Yekunoamlak, the elder brother of Eyasu.

"The whole time we were hoping that he has crossed the borders safely", Seyoum said. "He told our mother that he was going on a field work and he told me that he was with his friends."

The IS video, released by the terrorist group's official propaganda wing, opened with a call for IS supporters to target Christians.