Ethiopian electoral board starts probing poll irregularities

ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (AFP) — Ethiopia’s electoral board on Thursday said it had started probing allegations of irregularities in Sunday’s presidential vote, with rival parties continuing to claim victory.

“Some political parties have submitted complaints on the election process. The board has commenced its first hearing of the complaints,” said Tesfaye Mengesha, deputy head of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

Tesfaye said the board had asked complaining parties to present evidence for their allegations.

With final official results not expected until Saturday, rival parties claimed victory in the country’s third multiparty elections since 1991 when Prime Minister Meles Zenawi ousted the Marxist dictator Mengiste Haille Mariam.

Information Minister Berekat Simon, campaign spokesman for the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, said his party was on the path to victory.

But the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy made the same claim.

“I assure you the majority is in our hands, we know the results and we have won,” Berekat told reporters.