Elections put democracy in Ethiopia to the test

International observers - allowed into the country for the first time since elections began ten years ago - have praised the electoral process, declaring it to be the fairest so far, although opposition leaders continue to claim intimidation.

Their accusations were backed by a report published earlier this week by Human Rights Watch which concluded that Ethiopian authorities had stepped up harassment of critics in the country’s most populous region.

More than 300 observers - including 150 from the European Union and 50 from the Carter Centre - will monitor tomorrow’s vote. Jimmy Carter, the former United States president, said Ethiopia had displayed an "extraordinary" degree of democratisation since the downfall of the country’s military regime in 1991.

"My best understanding at this point is that there is no pattern of intimidation or interference in the proper electoral procedures initiated by the national electoral board," he said.

"We’ve had some reports, not confirmed I might say, of harassment or intimidation in some isolated cases."

EU chief election observer Ana Gomes protested earlier this month that both government and opposition parties were using "hate speech", and that murders, harassment and beatings had taken place.

"My personal integrity and that of the Carter Centre is at stake," said Mr Carter. "I intend to make an absolutely accurate and unbiased assessment after the election is over."

European Union election observers and diplomats have praised the elections for their openness compared with the 2000 vote, when the ruling coalition took 534 of 547 seats in the lower house of parliament.

For the first time, opposition parties have been allowed free access to the government- controlled media.

The results of the elections will be watched closely in Washington and London. Ethiopia has emerged as a key ally in the war against terror, occupying a crucial strategic position in the Horn of Africa.

Meles Zanawi has held power since 1991 when he led rebels into Addis Ababa to overthrow the Soviet-backed regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam. Multi-party elections were held in 1995 and again in 2000.

This time the country’s main opposition parties have set aside their differences to mount what is seen as the strongest challenge yet to the governing coalition. They are campaigning on economic reforms in a country where some 46 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

Debebe Eshetu, spokesman for the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party, dismissed Mr Carter’s endorsement of the campaign.

"We invite him to tour the city that is ringed by armed troops to intimidate people who support opposition parties," he said, adding that party supporters in Kuta Bere, north of Addis Ababa, had come under gunfire.

"It is far away from the free and fair elections the government promised," said Berhanu Nega, vice-chairman of the main opposition group. "They thought they would open it a little bit and maybe they would increase the seats of the opposition... and it would give them legitimate international recognition."

Mr Nega said he believes the opposition has a real chance of winning control of parliament, and the government is responding by reneging on its promise of a fair election.

The governing coalition retains a huge amount of support in rural areas where 85 per cent of the population lives, making Mr Zanawi a clear favourite to hold on to power.

Yesterday, as electioneering ended, he said the country was making good progress towards democracy.

"This is the election where we have had the highest interest both on behalf of the electorate and on the part of international observers," he said. "For me, it is the maturation of the emerging democracy we have in this country."

Despite the broad praise of the international community, some observers and human rights campaigners have found cause for concern. The EU delegation has complained about broadcasts made by Mr Zanawi accusing the opposition of fomenting ethnic hatred and warning that Ethiopia could follow Rwanda into genocide if his coalition lost power.

And Human Rights Watch researchers accused the regional government of Oromia of strangling free speech and political activity. They visited the country in March, interviewing dozens of people who claim to have been jailed or beaten.

The human rights watchdog accuses regional authorities of using exaggerated concerns about armed insurgency to justify harassing its critics.

Peter Takirambudde, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa division, said: "The Ethiopian government claims the elections demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles. But in the run-up the authorities have intensified the repression they have used to keep themselves in power for 13 years."