20100523
ALL AFRICA

Addis Ababa — Ethiopians voted on Sunday in national elections that are expected to return long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power in the first ballot since a disputed poll in 2005 turned violent.

The opposition admits it has little chance of victory but says that is because the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has tightened its grip on power and routinely intimidates and jails its critics.

The EPRDF says it has won popularity during a period of economic growth by building roads, hydropower dams and supplying electricity to villages in a country where nearly 10 percent of the population needed emergency food aid last year.

Mr Thijs Berman, the European Union's chief observer, said his impression from a visit to a polling station in the capital Addis Ababa was "very positive". But, one of the main opposition parties, the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) said its supporters and candidates were beaten, arrested and blocked from their constituency in Eastern and Western Ethiopia.

There was massive vote rigging and irregularities and our candidates and party observers are forced to run for their life, Mr Ababaw Mehari, AEUP regional coordinator told the Nation. In Oromya region, opposition parties pulled out some their candidates from the contest amid alleged intimidation and harassment.

Thirty two million voters were registered to cast their ballots but low turnout was observed in the capital Addis Ababa compared with the 2005 election. Two hundred protesters were killed by security forces following a highly contested Ethiopian election in 2005.

A Preliminary result in Sunday's will be announced on Tuesday May 25. Sunday's election seems a test for democracy in Ethiopia and is sure to pave way for Mr Meles' second decade in power. Amid claims of intimidation, a coalition of eight opposition parties, known as Medrek hinted they may reject the result.

Former president and current Medrek spokesman Negaso Gidada told the Nation the level of intimidation by the ruling party may lead them to reject the result. "Our candidates were arrested and blocked in various regions" Mr Negaso said. "How we can accept the result without proper election?" Mr Negaso added.

Mr Meles, 55, a former Marxist cast his ballot this morning in his birth place in northern Adwa town, Tigray region. Mr Meles faces unexpected challenge in his strong hold for the first time since he took a power in 1991. Opposition parties are contesting in Tigray region.

The region accounts for six per cent of 81 million Ethiopians but controls all major security apparatus, including the army. Analysts predict that it's not easy for the opposition to win in Tigray region. National Election board chief Merga Bekana said his office is receiving the reports from the regions and will investigate any alleged intimidation and harassment.

At the University of Addis Ababa, hundreds of students queued to vote in lecture halls. Election officials checked voting cards, put indelible ink on the thumbnail of each person and explained the party symbols on the ballot paper. "The process is very fair and it is democratic," said Hirpa Kumela, a 21-year-old psychology student. "Yes, I'll accept the results. I'm electing legally with my own attitude."

Mr Meles became leader of Ethiopia in 1991 when a rebel group led by him ousted a communist regime that killed hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians in a 17-year rule. The biggest challenge comes from the eight-party coalition Medrek -- or the Forum -- that is united chiefly by its desire to unseat Mr Meles.