ETHIOPIA: Opposition members arrested ahead of planned demo

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NAIROBI, 28 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - An unknown number of opposition party supporters have been arrested in Ethiopia ahead of a planned demonstration scheduled for Sunday in the capital, Addis Ababa, to protest the results of the 15 May general election.

"I can't give you a precise figure, but the number of those arrested in several regions runs into hundreds," Merera Gudina, first vice-chairman of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), said. "Several opposition offices have also been closed."

Information Minister Bereket Simon said the police had arrested 43 people in the Amhara region on the grounds that opposition parties - notably the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and the UEDF - were preparing to "continue the violence they started earlier on in the year".

However, Gudina said the government was detaining the opposition supporters on trumped up charges.

Violence erupted in the country in June as demonstrators took to the streets to protest alleged government vote rigging.

Bereket told IRIN on Tuesday that some members of the opposition had started "collecting weapons and preparing for illegal activity".

"Those who have been caught red-handed have been brought to justice," he said.

However, Gudina said the government had, instead, taken "a lot of extra judicial measures against members of the opposition" and labelled the charges of possession of firearms "fictitious".

Bereket said the UEDF had attempted to undermine the constitution and disrupt religious festivities on Monday.

"During the religious 'Meskel' festival on Monday, members of the UEDF attempted to disrupt the smooth undertaking of the festival and turn it into political unrest - they were arrested," Bereket said.

The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) retained power after winning a majority of seats in national elections marred by violence and alleged fraud.

According to the electoral board, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's ruling coalition, which has held power for 14 years, took 327 seats, winning a new five-year term. The EPRDF will now control 59 percent of the 547-seat parliament, losing around 150 seats during the polls.

Opposition parties took 174 seats - 32 percent of the seats - with the largest opposition group, the CUD, taking 20 percent of the parliamentary seats. Opposition parties held only 12 seats previously.

The polls were also blemished by controversy, with the European Union (EU) saying the ballot had failed to meet international standards in key areas. This criticism elicited a sharp response from the prime minister, who branded the EU election observer mission report "garbage".

[ENDS]