Beyan Asoba, a spokesman for OLF said another 37 were killed an attack in Boke Tiko district on Oct. 21.

But the Ethiopian government denied the OLF’S claim and described it as completely unfounded and outright lie.

Shimeles Kemal, a spokesman for the communications ministry said on Thursday there was what he called a “mopping up” operation against a “disbanded and disarrayed” rebel army.

He added that the army did not suffer any casualties. No one can confirm claims of both sides because journalists and aid groups can hardly operate freely in conflict areas in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has been facing an insurgency from the Oromo Liberation Front in Oromia, the largest of its nine federal states since 1973.

OLF says the people have suffered a century of repression by successive governments of the Horn of Africa nation. It wants self-determination for the Oromo people, who live in a large region in central Ethiopia.

Other main rebel group is the Ogaden National Liberation Front who fights with Ethiopia soldiers in the eastern Ogaden region.

This group has been fighting for independence for ethnic Somalis in the Ogadenia since 1984 and accuses the government forces of killing and raping civilians.