Reuters AlertNet Lite - Ethiopians vote in polls, ruling party seen winning

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Ethiopians vote in polls, ruling party seen winning

20 Apr 2008 12:49:40 GMT
Source: Reuters

ADDIS ABABA, April 20 (Reuters) - Ethiopians cast their ballots in the final round of council and parliamentary elections on Sunday with the ruling party expected to win after two opposition parties quit the race alleging intimidation.

The elections are Ethiopia's first since a disputed 2005 poll sparked deadly clashes, killing some 200 people and tarnishing Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's democratic credentials.

This month's voting was marred by the opposition pullout and explosions on Monday in the capital Addis Ababa that killed three people and wounded 18.

The biggest parliamentary opposition group, the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) withdrew its 20,000 candidates on April 10, saying many of its members had been prevented from registering by the authorities.

A second party, the opposition Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), said it was withdrawing from the ongoing election on Friday, accusing the ruling party of intimidating its agents during the first round of voting last Sunday.

Meles' special adviser Bereket Simon has said the OFDM claims were merely a tactic to "escape from facing defeat".

Political analysts say the expected landslide victory by Meles' Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) would sideline opponents even more, making them less likely to challenge the government at the ballot box in the future.

(Reporting by Tsegaye Tadesse)

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ )

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