Elections
Ethiopia's election fever turned out to be quite contagious.
Just over a week ago there were huge demonstrations in the centre of Addis Ababa - one day for the Government and the next for the opposition parties. The amount of people who turned out to support the opposition was really quite phenomenal. People seemed genuinely passionate about the elections - genuinely passionate that they could bring about change.
Yesterday I got to my first polling station at about 5.30am. Queues of people were already lining up in the cold, dark morning to vote. I went home at about 10am to file my first story and was amazed to see 400 or so people outside our house queueing to get into the polling station. Normally it's quite noisy where we live..yesterday with all these people standing there it was almost silent.
Allegations about the fairness of the campaign contiuned throughout the day (as they have throughout the election process). Last night Meles Zenawi (Prime Minister) banned public demonstrations and assumed direct control of the security forces.
EU observer's say the election has been mostly free and fair but there are obviously concerns about what will happen next.
Like your blog - but where are you now?
Posted by: Malcolm | Thursday, June 09, 2005 at 06:25 AM
Amber,
where are you ? we miss reading your blogs.Are you back in UK ?
Tyrel
Posted by: Tyrel | Friday, June 10, 2005 at 08:42 AM