State Department. The U.S. State Department is also receiving information about the situation on the ground in Ethiopia. The State Department is emphasizing the need for dialogue between the opposition and the ruling regime. We have expressed disappointment with the failure of the State Department to publicly criticize the Meles regime or to take stronger actions to induce it to change its policies.

We have discussed with Congress and the State Department: voting irregularities; the lack of independence of the electoral board; anti-democratic rules that have been imposed on parliament that prevent opposition members from participating in or influencing the outcome of legislation; repression in Wollo and other parts of Ethiopia.