Ethiopia’s opposition parties slam probe into vote fraud

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 19, 2005 (AP) — Ethiopia’s two main opposition parties have branded investigations into alleged election fraud a failure, saying their representatives in panels probing the charges have been arrested, beaten and killed by pro-government militias.

The parties want authorities to address their complaints because abuses may trigger unrest in the Horn of Africa nation, opposition officials said Tuesday.

Brehanu Nega of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy said the government and the National Electoral Board had rigged from the start investigations into irregularities in 139 of the 524 seat contested in the May 15 polls.

The investigations began after police shot deat at least 40 people and injured dozens during last month’s protests against alleged electoral fraud.