Ethiopia's ruling party wins poll

2001-02-28 19:50

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's ruling coalition (EPDRF) has won a large majority in legislative elections in the 28 districts of the capital Addis Ababa, media reports said late on Tuesday.

Elections were also held Sunday in four other regions of Ethiopia - the Amhara, Afar, Oromia and Tigre areas.

The Amhara National Democratic Movement and the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation, both members of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPDRF), won large majorities in their respective regions, the media said.

The EPDRF won 959 seats in the Addis Ababa elections.

The Ethiopian Democratic Party and the All Amhara Peoples' Organisation, two opposition parties, won eight and nine seats respectively in the capital's districts the media reported.

One independent was also elected.

The district polls were the second district elections since the 1995 adoption of a constitution that transformed Ethiopia into a federal state with nine largely autonomous regions as well as special administrations in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa in the east.

Opposition parties said that their candidates had been harassed and intimidated, but the parties were able to present their platforms through radio and television debates with the EPRDF organised by the civic groups.

The EPRDF won a large majority in last year's May 14 general elections. Out of 548 seats in the federal parliament, only about 15 were held by members of opposition parties and eight by independent candidates.

Elections at kebele, or local council, level will be held on March 4. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA