Election 2005: The Aftermath

The Aftermath in Pictures (Please be warned that some of these pictures are disturbing)

Ethiopia's main opposition group on Sunday renewed its pledge to abide by a shaky truce with the government to stop post-election violence in a bid to ease a police crackdown on its members.

The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) said it was firmly committed to the pledge it made on Friday despite complaints it made at the time and the ongoing roundup of its supporters.

"In signing the declaration, the CUD nowhere put any reservations or conditions or equivocation to its adherence to the spirit and letter of the declaration," it said.

"The CUD regrets any misinterpretation of its presentation at the signing ceremony and retracts any elements of its statement that may have given this impression," it said in a statement ...

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi faces a tough challenge to convince the outside world that his democratic credentials are intact, particularly after authorising a security crackdown after disputed elections.

Under international pressure to show restraint after security forces gunned down at least 26 people this week, Meles expressed regret at the loss of life, but warned he would take "preventative" measures to curb further unrest.

In his first public comments since Ethiopia's worst bout of violence in four years, Meles told Reuters he remained committed to bringing democracy to the Horn of Africa's dominant power, saying reforms should be speeded up ...

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has defended a security crackdown which saw 26 protesters shot dead in the country's capital, Addis Ababa.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Mr Meles said he regretted the loss of life but added "things were beginning to get out of control".

"It was prudent to stop this with forceful action," he said.

Mr Meles spoke as rival parties signed a deal backing a call for a probe into claims of fraud in recent elections ...

The government held opposition politicians responsible for clashes between police and protesters that left at least 29 people dead, but joined with the opposition in an appeal Friday for an end to the election-related violence.

Drawing international condemnation, police had opened fire on demonstrators who have been protesting since Monday. The protesters were angered by provisional results that indicated the ruling party was winner of the parliamentary polls. The opposition has charged the vote was flawed by fraud and violence ...

Most stores were shuttered Thursday and families collected the dead for burial following riots over election results and government warnings that any more civil unrest would be dealt with sternly.

Ethiopian security forces opened fire on stone-throwing demonstrators in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, leaving at least 26 people dead, the government said. European Union observers said some opposition politicians were placed under house arrest following the government's victory in last month's election ...

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Ethiopia's government and opposition signed a non-violence pact on Friday after deadly clashes in the capital this week during protests over disputed elections that killed at least 27 people.

But prospects for the agreement, brokered by alarmed foreign donors to ease tensions over the violence and the May 15 polls, appeared dim as the two sides traded new accusations of malfeasance immediately after it was sealed.

And, witnesses reported new mass arrests of suspected election protestors, with at least 30 more being rounded up in a crackdown that began hours after police opened fire on crowds on Wednesday killing 26 and wounding hundreds ...

In the days since Ethiopia's disputed elections sparked a wave of violent street protests in the capital, Addis Ababa, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has spoken several times to both Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and opposition leaders in that country, according to a statement issued by a UN spokesman.

"[The Secretary-General] urged a peaceful resolution of the situation, the statement said, adding that "he called for respect for the electoral outcome" ...

Ethiopia came under international criticism on Thursday following three days of violence when security forces reportedly opened fire and killed at least 26 people during demonstrations to protest alleged electoral fraud.

Human-rights organisations and world leaders called for calm and restraint by security forces and urged the Ethiopian government to lift the reporting ban imposed on five journalists ...

After three days of mass arrests and shootings of demonstrators in Addis Ababa, leaving at least 26 dead and over 100 injured, Amnesty International today said that over 1,500 students and other demonstrators are at risk of torture. Further arrests are reportedly continuing in Addis Ababa and in other towns where student demonstrations took place.

The organization condemned the excessive use of force by the police, who used live ammunition against mainly peaceful protestors -- although some threw stones -- and brutally beat them ...

In a further clampdown by the Ethiopian government following last month's controversial parliamentary elections, opposition officials say security forces have begun arresting opposition supporters and closely monitoring opposition party leaders.

The campaign manager of the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy party, Berhanu Nega, tells VOA at least 10 of his staff members were arrested and taken away by security forces Wednesday. 

He says the leadership of his party is also under constant surveillance ...

ASMARA, June 8 (AFP) - The chairman of Ethiopia's rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) said Wednesday that his group would not accept the government's victory in disputed general elections last month.

Dawud Ibsa told AFP on a visit to the Eritrean capital that the Oromo people would not accept "rigged" provisional poll results that show a ruling party victory in the May 14 elections.

"We will call on the Oromo people not to accept the government's victory, to resist and to fight," he said, as deadly clashes erupted in Addis Ababa between police and demonstrators protesting the polls.

"These elections have been rigged," Ibsa said. "The conflict will widen unless the international community comes out with a very committed stance to avert this" ...

The violence highlights growing tensions in the nation and the volatile situation that has emerged since millions of Ethiopians voted on May 15.

The ballot was initially described as the country's most open, adding credibility to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's claims to be a democratic reformer. But after it emerged that unprecedented numbers of votes went to the opposition, the process has been marred by allegations of widespread irregularities.

The true test of Mr Meles's democratic values will now be how he deals with the situation emerging in a country of 70m where the gun has often been the determining factor ...

Adama (WIC) - The Oromia Police Commission said it will take serious measures against forces bent on activities endangering the constitution and security of the people. 

Public Relations Head with the Commission, Inspector Tekle Tessema said the state police commission is ready to pre-empt any anarchic act intent on ensuing bloodshed by some people in the name of election results.

He said the police have a constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety and security of citizens respecting the supremacy of the rule of law. 

The inspector said police has foiled attempts by some Alemaya and Jimma University students ...

Ethiopian security forces opened fire Wednesday on protesters angered by election results, leaving at least 22 people dead in the capital, while European observers said some opposition politicians were placed under house arrest.

The government said security forces acted to restore order and it did not have casualty figures. It also said the demonstrations were illegal and that organizers would be dealt with sternly.

The head of the European Union observer mission said some opposition politicians had been placed under house arrest ...

Ethiopia has put a top opposition leader and his deputy under house arrest hours after clashes in which 22 died, an EU observer has reported.

Hailu Shawul is leader of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, which denies being behind this week's student protests in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Ana Gomes, chief EU observer at last month's elections, condemned the deaths and protested to Ethiopia's government.

The ruling party has been accused of massive fraud at the polls ...

Opposition Politicians Placed under House Arrest
Scotsman, UK - June 8, '05

ETHIOPIA: Scores reported killed in student unrest
Reuters AlertNet, UK - June 8, '05

Journalists are becoming increasingly unwelcome observers
APPA, France - June 8, '05

CUD is to blame for violence, says government
Independent Online - June 8, '05

ADDIS ABABA, June 8 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Wednesday it had authorised police to take "appropriate action" against further civil disturbances, following the killing of at least 22 people who clashed in the streets with security forces.

"Police have been authorised to take appropriate action against those who attempt to disrupt the peace," Ethiopian state television said in a statement on the post-election violence.

"According to the latest reports, the death toll is reported to have reached 22," the statement said.

Ethiopian security forces beat rock-throwing students protesting against the result of the May 15 parliamentary election they say was rigged, opposition parties and students said on Tuesday.

A second day of demonstrations turned violent after protests on Monday at Addis Ababa University left on person dead and saw more than 500 arrested.

On Tuesday, about 100 students at a technical college tried to stage a protest march but were forced to stay inside their campus by riot police and paramilitary soldiers, witness Sao Okutsu, a teacher, told Reuters.

The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and police have accused the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) of inciting the students ...

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Students throwing stones and police swinging clubs clashed for a second day in Ethiopia's capital Tuesday as authorities struggled to keep a lid on anger over what the opposition says was widespread rigging during last month's elections.

At a technical college -- the epicenter of Tuesday's violence -- police dragged bloody students from buildings, prompting construction workers and passers-by to join the melee. At least one student was shot and hospitalized in critical condition with a stomach wound.

"The police came running into the college, beating students and hitting them over their heads with their batons," said Liya Tsion, 17, a student of information technology ...

Ethiopian police have clashed with students protesting over last month's elections for a second day in the capital, Addis Ababa.

The students threw rocks at the police who responded by storming a technical college and arresting about 100 people.

The students were beaten with batons and rifle butts by police, who also fired shots in the air, witnesses said.

On Monday, a girl died in clashes which began when students defied a ban on protests following the poll ...

The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) would like to express their esteem and gratitude to the Ethiopian people for accepting their advice of patiently awaiting the finalization of the process of counting votes and their official reporting by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

These peaceful stances of the public notwithstanding, the repressive measures taken by the government on students of Addis Ababa University the evening of 5 June 2005 continued with ferocity on 6 June ...

POLICE surrounded Ethiopia's largest university yesterday and arrested hundreds of students who defied a government ban and protested against the results of the country's disputed legislative elections.

Police charged into crowds at Addis Ababa University to grab protesters and beat some with batons during the first public protest against the elections held on 15 May.

Special forces troops stood by, armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Riot police with tear gas and a water cannon were also on hand as regular police quelled the demonstration.

Demonstrations have been banned since election day, when the capital's police were put under the control of Meles Zenawi, the prime minister ...

Ethiopian police Monday surrounded a university in the capital as students protested provisional results of the country's recent parliamentary election. The opposition says Ethiopian authorities are increasingly clamping down on election critics.

Security forces blocked the entrance to Addis Ababa University and locked hundreds of chanting students inside the campus before rounding up, arresting, and taking away scores of the protesters.

The students were protesting provisional election results that indicate a victory for the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. They accused the ruling coalition of committing massive vote rigging and other fraud, a view echoed by opposition parties ...

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Police arrested hundreds of students who defied a government ban to protest the results of Ethiopia's disputed legislative elections, hours after surrounding and locking down the country's largest university on Monday.

Police charged into crowds at Addis Ababa University to grab protesters and beat others with batons in the first public protest against the May 15 elections.

The army's special forces troops stood by, armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades. Riot police with tear gas and a water cannon also stood by as regular police quelled the demonstration ...

Clashes between police and student demonstrators left one girl dead and hundreds arrested in protests Monday against disputed Ethiopian election results, police said.

Students at Addis Ababa University campuses had defied a government ban against demonstrations. Police charged into crowds to grab protesters and beat some with batons during the first public protest against the May 15 legislative elections in which the ruling party retained power.

Public protests have been banned since election day. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's party retained control of parliament, according to official election results that have not yet been ratified, but opposition parties alleged there was widespread fraud ...

Official results from last month's parliamentary elections in Ethiopia will be delayed by one month, and are now due to be announced on 8 July.

This will allow election authorities to investigate hundreds of alleged episodes of fraud and vote rigging.

Opposition parties have vowed to stage mass protests if the provisional results are validated ...

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Ethiopian authorities have released without charge eight journalists arrested in connection with reports they filed after last month's parliamentary polls, the country's main media association said on Friday.

The arrests came amid rising tension in Africa's top coffee- grower following the elections, which opposition leaders accuse the ruling party of rigging to stay in power ...

The Federal First Instant Court will give on Friday its decision on its jurisdiction right, whether to press charges against Prime Minister Meles Zenawi or not.

The Federal First Instant Court, which heard charges made by the lawyers of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) on Thursday said that it will give its verdict on Friday afternoon after seriously deliberating on the report.

Lawyers of CUD have explained to the court on Thursday about their constitutional rights to file charges against Meles ...

Thousands of Ethiopians peacefully demonstrated outside the State Department on May 26 to call for full transparency in the vote counting that is taking place after the recent parliamentary elections in Ethiopia. Parading slogans like  "Support free and fair elections in Ethiopia" and "President Bush, Secretary Rice, Ethiopians Demand Respect for Their Votes," a crowd of 1,500 and 2,000 people stood outside the State Department on a bright and sunny morning chanting for greater freedom and democracy in their country ...

Ethiopian authorities arrested eight Ethiopian journalists on Thursday in connection with reports they filed following last month's general election, the country's main journalists' association said.

"The eight journalists were arrested in connection with their reports following the May 15 parliamentary election," said a statement from Kifle Mulate, president of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association which is comprised of members of privately-owned media ...

International observers will not involve in the investigation process of the election complaints presented both by the ruling and opposition parties, United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) disclosed.

Officials of UEDF said that international observers are not in a position to involve in the investigation process of the complaints.

Dr. Beyene Petros, Vice Chairman of UEDF told journalists that there is a fear that the investigation process of the election complaints will face great difficulties due to the unwillingness of the international observers ...

The opposition Oromo National Congress (ONC) has said that 13 of its members were killed before and after election time.

It also said that its victorious candidates are fleeing from their respective constituencies after failed assassination attempt on their lives.

While briefing Adis Zena, the party said five out of the 13 members were killed between 14 and 15 Ginbot 97 (22-23 May 2005) by members of the reserve army, who were said to have come from Beladumo town, Fedis District, eastern Harerge zone in eastern Ethiopia ...

Both the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and the opposition have accused each other of attempting to rig votes in the polls, the second set of real multi-party elections in Africa's top coffee grower.

Official results from the elections, which despite the latest figures have delivered a far bigger swing to the opposition than many observers had expected, are due on June 8 ...

Ethiopia's ruling coalition and allied parties won an absolute majority in the 547-seat parliament during the recent elections, according to the latest results released by the national electoral commission on Saturday.

According to returns from 453 constituencies, the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi won 269 seats and allies parties another 14 in the May 15 legislative polls.

This gives the ruling coalition 283 seats, well above the absolute majority of 274 in the federal parliament ...

The final results in Ethiopia's parliamentary election may be delayed because of hundreds of complaints and allegations of fraud filed by the candidates, the National Electoral Board spokesperson said on Friday.

The board was scheduled to release the final results of the May 15 election on June 8. New elections have already been scheduled for 16 of the country's 34 000 polling stations because of irregularities.

The election board has received complaints in almost 200 constituencies ...

Ethiopia's electoral board appears to have lost control of the vote counting for the May 15 legislative polls, European Union election observers said in a report obtained by the Associated Press Wednesday.

The confidential report said the EU might have to make a public denunciation of developments to distance itself from "the lack of transparency, and assumed rigging" of the vote.

"Ten days after the polling day, the situation is of political uncertainty and informational chaos regarding the results of the election," said the confidential report ...

European Union election observers in Ethiopia have expressed regret at the slow pace of vote counting following elections 10 days ago.

The observer mission also criticised claims of victory by the governing party a day after the parliamentary vote and before any results.

The third democratic poll was the first scrutinised by foreign observers.

Ethiopia's National Elections Board says it is now investigating claims of fraud in more than 200 constituencies ...

Ethiopia's election has been marred by media manipulation by the ruling party and irregular vote counting that could hurt public confidence in the vote, a European Union observer mission said on Wednesday.

Votes are still being counted after Ethiopia's May 15 poll and six constituencies are due to stage re-votes on Saturday to decide who will control its 547-member federal parliament.

The EU mission accused the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) of using the state-run media to report only its partial victories and to hide criticism of it or news that favoured the opposition ...

European Union election observers said on Wednesday that the recent elections in Ethiopia were being seriously undermined by delays in the counting of votes.

In a statement, the EU observers said the trickle of results, claims of victory by the government and opposition and the denial of access to the state-run media for government opponents was threatening the electoral process.

"These practices, taken as a whole, are seriously undermining the transparency and fairness of the elections," a statement released by the observers said. "They also risk increasing the scope for manipulation and consequently putting in doubt public confidence in the process" ...

The leader of Ethiopia’s main opposition bloc, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, says it has held internal discussions about peaceful means of protest. This, in case disputes over this month’s parliamentary elections are not resolved.  Both the ruling EPRDF party and the opposition say they’re ahead in the counting for the 547-seat body.  The government has issued a temporary ban on any public protests ...

Two strong opposition parties contesting in the election were divided in principle in establishing the next government in Ethiopia.

Officials of United Ethiopia Democratic forces (UEDF) said that though the ruling party (EPRDF) is losing the majority of votes during this year's election, it is time to involve in dialogue with opposition parties to establish the next government ...