The Americans said: “We are concerned about a decision by the government of Ethiopia to ban post-election demonstrations, and our embassy is monitoring that situation closely.” Richard Boucher of the State Department called on the opposition and government to show restraint and respect for the voting outcome.

A day passed after the Addis Ababa opposition triumph, and results started to show from countryside that unlike previous guesses, the opposition were doing excellent, and in fact, had extended their wins from Addis to major towns like Dessie, Gondar, Bahr Dar, Dire Dawa, Awassa, Assela, Debre Zeit, Debre Berhan and many more others.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi once again came over the air and TV and said his party had won the majority of seats and would go ahead forming the next government.

He made the statement in the face of growing opposition wins but again before official results were released by his trusted National Electoral Boarad (NEB). As a warning, once again European Union (EU) chief observer Ana Gomez slammed victory speeches made by Meles Zenawi, and to some extent, of the opposition parties.

On Wedneday May 18, the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) stretched opposition poll victories further as it wrapped up its sleeve at least 55 constituencies in southern and western Ethiopia. This wide margin of UEDF victory over the ruling party on top of the sweeping CUD victories enabled the opposition to announce their plan to form the next government, and called on the Ethiopian people to defend their hard-won victories as government tampering with votes grew ever more imminent.

Now, is Mr. Meles Zenawi, largely hailed by western observers as “one of Africa’s democratic leaders,” ready to respect the decision of the Ethiopian people, or would resort to mobilizing his security forces and wreck havoc on the nation in a bid to cling to power?

The latter would not do Meles or the country any good as no one gains from unleashing violence. This action would simply sow the seeds of chaos and anarchy in a country of 70 million. The former, the decision by the ruling party to respect the desire of the Ethiopian people, would undoubtedly honor Mr. Meles as an Ethiopian leader who set the country on the right track for a democratic governance.