Ethiopia elections set for December
2001-11-22 23:34
Addis Ababa - Elections for regional and district councils of administration in southern Ethiopia are to take place under heavy police supervision on December 9, state media has reported.
According to the police in what is called the Federal State of
Nations, Nationalities and People of the South, over 5 000 security
forces will be deployed in 104 districts to ensure the elections
are "peaceful".
The opposition, led by the Council of the Alternative Forces for
Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia (CAFPDE), has strong support in
southern Ethiopia.
The CAFPDE comprises five small parties, the main one being the
Democratic Coalition of the People of South Ethiopia (SEPDC), led
by Beyenne Petros.
Beyenne, a member of parliament, has often condemned what he
alleges to be "the harassment, intimidation, arrests and murders"
of some of his party's activists.
Elections for the municipal councils - known locally as kebeles
- are due to take place one week later on December 16. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA