Ethiopia calls on opposition parties to renounce violence

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 3 (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s ruling party has urged opposition groups to renounce the armed struggle and to contest parliamentary elections next year instead.

The call was made by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) at a joint news conference late on Tuesday with the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, an opposition group that has laid down its arms.

“The EPRDF yet again calls upon all parties that have opted for armed struggle to join the legal and peaceful means of achieving political power,” Information Minister Bereket Simon, who is also EPRDF spokesman, said.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s second most populous country will hold elections for its 547-seat federal parliament on May 15, 2005.

EPRDF officials say the appeal was made to the rebel Oromo Liberation Front, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) and the All Ethiopian Socialist Movement (AESM).

OLF rebels have fought for independence of the southern Oromo region since 1993, alleging government discrimination against the Oromo, the largest ethnic group.

The far-left EPRP and AESM, both based abroad, are not active militarily but have not renounced the armed struggle.

The EPRDF, which ousted Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, won 479 seats in the assembly in the last elections in 2000.

Bereket said the government would want OLF to hand over its arms and surrender its army before allowing it to take part in the ballot. The EPRP and AESM could take part if they publicly opted for the peaceful struggle, he said.

Analysts say divisions among peaceful opposition groups have led to the EPRDF coalition of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to win parliamentary elections since Mengistu was toppled.