Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Ethiopia's Orthodox Church urged the government on Wednesday to take action against anyone fomenting violence between Christians and Muslims in the west of the country that has killed 15 people since last month.
The trouble has been centred on Jimma, a coffee-rich province 350 km (215 miles) west of the capital Addis Ababa.
"Blood has been shed and religious shrines destroyed as a result of a hate campaign launched by a few individuals since September," the church's Holy Synod said in a statement.
"The Holy Synod appeals to the government to take urgent action and end these destructive and illegal activities."
Ethiopia has a population of 79 million people of whom 60 percent are Christians and the rest are Muslims and animists.