Ethiopia's ruling party urge members to show restraint during elections

The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has urged its members to show restraint and patience until the completion of the national elections.

Tadesse Kassa, EPRDF electoral executive committee member, told a news conference Thursday that the ruling party has given special attention to the peaceful and democratic holding of the elections.

He called on members of the EPRDF to wait in patience for their turn to cast their ballots by rising early Sunday.

He also stressed the need to respect electoral law and cooperate with the security personnel, saying that the members and supporters should not hold elections campaign signs, EPRDF's emblems or badge of EPRDF or its election logo.

Tadesse said members and supporters of the EPRDF should not in any case hamper elections, as they would be beneficiary if the elections are completed peacefully.

Observers say Addis Ababa is the stronghold of the opposition parties and the ruling party is trying its level best to snatch some more ballots from the supporters of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).

The two major opposition parties hope to end the ruling party's 14 years in power. They are very popular among youths, university students and business people in Addis Ababa.

More than 25.6 million of Ethiopia's 74.2 million people have registered to vote in the upcoming elections. Thirty-six political parties will contest places in the House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower house of parliament.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi-led EPRDF is widely expected to win a third five-year term, but observers say the ruling party's parliamentary majority may dwindle under challenges from opposition candidates. The EPRDF currently holds 481 of the 547 seats in parliament.

Voters will also elect representatives in nine regional state parliaments that appoint members of the 112-seat Council of the Federation, the upper house.

Ethiopia holds national polls every five years.

Source: Xinhua