Ethiopia-millions cast votes, opposition accuses of violations

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

April 13, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) –The Afar Liberation Front today says its candidates and its election observers are arrested by government agents at the Afar region today.

“15 of our candidates and 20 of our own election observers are arrested this morning” chairman of the party Kadafo Aidahes told Sudan tribune.

Today some 26 million people cast votes have been voting at 42,000 polling stations all over the nation from down to dusk.

According to the chairman most of the candidates and observers were arrested at Bure, Dufti and Somorobi districts of the Afar region.

“The election process in the Afar region is totally undemocratic and repressing for opposition parties” Kadafo said “most of our members and observers were forced to pullout as are a result” he added.

The Afar Liberation Front has 2,000 candidates.

“Polling stations are surrounded by heavy number of police that a free and democratic atmosphere was not created at polling stations for supporters to freely elect and for observers to watch” he added.

(ST)