Ethiopia election board confirms ruling party landslide; says election was free and fair

Ethiopia: ruling party landslide confirmed

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s election board says the ruling party has won national elections by a landslide.

Board chairman Merga Bekana says Monday’s final results install Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for another five years and give his party the majority of seats. He says the May 23 poll was peaceful, fair, credible and free.

But EU observers have said they found the poll was marred by an uneven playing field that favored the ruling party. Opposition parties unsuccessfully called for a rerun over claims their supporters and candidates were intimidated.

The vote had been closely watched by international observers after the contentious 2005 election.

During that poll, the opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats but 193 demonstrators were killed after the votes were counted.