WASHINGTON DC – Ethiopia’s leading opposition party which enjoyed a landslide victory over the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi last May declared on Sunday the nation’s next move would be to force the resignation of the Meles government, Ethiopian Review has reported.

From the Carter Center Statement: “Armed militia, police, and/or military personnel were seen outside of polling stations in many areas visited by CC observers, and in some areas also inside the polling stations. Although security personnel can be present inside the station if requested by polling station officials, in the polarized environment surrounding the re-elections, some Center observers reported that the security presence appeared to have an intimidating effect on voters.” – Carter Center Final Report on the May 15 elections. (Caption and photo montage: Ethiomedia; Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Heavens)

Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) President Hailu Shawel said the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had committed widespread fraud as reported in the findings of international observers from the European Union and the Carter Center.

“CUD would boycott the parliament,” Hailu said told a packed audience of Ethiopians who responded with a standing ovation, Ethiopian Review said.

The Carter Center on its part said in its September 15 report that the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) and Complaints Review Boards (CRBs) – two key procedures formed to break a post-election stalemate by investigating into 299 fraud-related charges – failed to function properly.

“In retrospect the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) and Complaints Review Boards (CRBs) process did not provide an adequate means for a fair resolution of all electoral disputes,” the Carter Center report noted, thus destroying Meles Zenawi’s credibility of solo drive to form a parliament.

The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), the second major opposition party which commands tremendous support in Oromia and Southern People’s regions, has announced a public rally on October 2 in Addis Ababa.

CUD, which is UEDF’s closest ally, said its supporters would join hands with UEDF at the October rally, Ethiopian Review said.

The allied power of two of Ethiopia’s opposition heavyweights has scared the prime minister so much that he has now invited the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – a rebel group which the premier has been demonizing as terrorist for every thrown grenade – to jump into the political fray in case it helps crack the unprecedented unity forged between CUD and UEDF. (Ethiomedia)

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