Ethiopians flee from killer lions

The lions are hunting in groups of between two and four, police said

At least 1,000 Ethiopian farmers have fled their homes after 20 people were killed in a month of attacks by killer lions, a local official says.

Tadesse Gichore, an official in the remote southern Soro district, said 14 villages had been attacked and 750 domestic animals killed.

The lions attacked during the day, when the farmers were out, he said.

The lions had left their natural habitat due to deforestation, wildlife officials said.

Mr Tadesse said the authorities were hunting the lions in the Gibe River Valley, some 400km south of the capital, Addis Ababa.

A police statement said: "Killing these lions would be the only way to rescue the residents in the area and prevent other casualties."

"The lions are coming from the bush seeking food," in groups of between two and four animals, the police said.