The opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) in Ethiopia said Monday it had won majority votes in the capital Addis Ababa and other major towns in the parliamentary elections.

CUD executives told a press conference that their party had won in all constituencies with the exception of two, whose results are not yet known, in Addis Ababa city administration.

The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front ( EPRDF) said Monday in a statement that it did not won the seats in the federal parliament and regional councils in Addis Ababa.

However, the EPRDF announced the victory in South Ethiopia People's, Oromia, Amhara and Tigray states would enable the ruling party to form a federal government and regional governments in the four states.

Thirty-six parties are contesting places in the 547-seat lower House of People's Representatives. CUD is challenging the ruling EPRDF that has been in power for 14 years.

CUD, founded in November 2004, is made up of five parties, with the All Amhara People's Organization being the alliance's core party. Its chairman is US-educated economist Hailu Shawel.

The CUD executives said the official election results had not reached the coalition so far from the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia.