In Ethiopia an annual thanksgiving festival observed by the country's largest ethnic group, the Oromo, has been held amid tight security due to fears of political unrest.

Unlike previous years only a few thousand attended the event, known as Irreecha, in the capital Addis Ababa and the town of Bishoftu.

The authorities said this was to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Ahead of the festival police said they had arrested more than 500 people who had been planning to cause unrest and a terror plot had been foiled.

However, the festival is being held at a time of growing anti government resentment amongst the Oromo population, the authorities may have feared the festival would be used as a platform for protests.