Ethiopia biggest opposition pulls out of elections
Reuters - April 10, 2008

Ethiopia's biggest opposition party in parliament pulled out of a round of local elections due next week, accusing Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government of intimidating its supporters.

The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces said the Horn of Africa nation's police and electoral board had failed to address its complaints of electoral violations before Sunday's polls for local councils, UEDF Chairman Beyene Petros said.

"Since there was no level field for a democratic election and our candidates were beaten, arrested and their property confiscated by cadres of the ruling party, we have decided to pull out of the local council elections," Beyene said on Thursday. Read More.