ADDIS ABABA, July 29 (AFP) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi warned the country's opposition leaders on Friday against making good their threat to pull out of a panel investigating alleged fraud in the May 15 elections as well as boycotting parliament.


Meles Zenawi
In the first-ever face-to-face meeting since the polls, Meles told leaders of the two main opposition parties that they would "face the consequences," if the pull out from a panel investigating the alleged fraud, according to Tim Clarke, the head of the EU delegation here.

"The opposition were told by the prime minister that they have to make a choice in the coming days on whether they are in or out of the process and face the consequences," added Clarke, who attending the meeting.

The envoy said the meeting was designed to "narrow their difference" after the election, in which the opposition claims Meles's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) rigged its way to victory.

So far, official results from 435 constituencies indicate that EPRDF and allied parties have 263, while Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and United Ethiopian Democratic Front (UEDF), two main opposition parties here, have 172.

The two parties have rejected the outcome, further accused the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) of favouring the ruling party, and even threatened to pullout from the panel as well as boycott parliament.

UEDF leader Beyen Petros, who attended the meeting, said the Horn of Africa nation has a long way to go.

"Indeed we have along way to go, the prime minister does not like our call for a re-run of the election or re-investigation as the first investigations have failed. We are still within the process we are not out of the process," he said.

Earlier Friday, Clarke lauded NEBE for conducting investigations into the alleged fraud in a professional manner despite accusations that it favoured the ruling party.

Since the polls, the board has been investigating hundreds of complaints of fraud presented by the rival parties.

"(NEBE) is conducting the contested result investigation in a good manner and (with) professionalism under difficult circumstances," Clarke told a press conference.

Clarke urged rival parties "to work in line with the country's constitution."

Clarke, who participated in one of the numerous electoral probes, warned that any attempts to overturn the process would plunge Ethiopia, a nation of about 70 million, into chaos.

"I myself participated in one investigation in one area to see how it worked. It was a fascinating and unique process as no other country in the world has gone through the same process like here," he said.

"Attempts to turn the process will cause even more anxiety and tension and potentially could lead to crisis," Clarke added.

He also warned against boycotting parliament because of the alleged fraud, which sparked demonstrations in the capital that resulted in the death of at least 36 people in June.

"Citizens of the country expect the politicians to resolve problems in a sensible and rational way rather than ending up in hostility," Clarke added. "Parties concerned should find common language to solve the problems."

It is a reaction of terrified and cornered bull.

Email: helina1967

Quote
""Clarke, who participated in one of the numerous electoral probes, warned that any attempts to overturn the process would plunge Ethiopia, a nation of about 70 million, into chaos.""

This person is echoing Meles Zenawe.
Watch out my brothers they are preparing us for another Rwanda. This is an open conspiracy.
From all over Ethiopia please throw out this ethnic timing bomb that was set by our common enemies to destroy us all. Wake up refuse to fall in the trap they are set to us.
Imagine in the United State of America, if the first immigrants to that country from different parts of Europe, Africa and Asia had divided the country 200 years ago by small colonies...???? Get the answers yourself.
Show once again the Ethiopian value that we can not be worked out or manipulated to serve our enemies evil design. Tell them we are more united than ever before.

I invite you to dig in this golden individual unalienable rights that we can achieve together by electing true leaders who obey and understand that they are the servant of the people.

QUOTE
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...."
Freedom is never free, but must be defended with vigilance and diligence."

It is his last breath. Keep his sick brain boiling. We know how mad dogs do. He and his cadres are doing the same. The next coming days and months we will hear and witness many things from his side. The more the sickness took charge on him, the worst he will come. But we have to be brave to facilitate his early death before affecting the healthy and causing more troubles. What do you expect from him after all? There are lots of crimes on him. His humanity is totally gone. He has no ability anymore to act as a normal human being. At this time his aggressive character is the only means he has to try to save his position and continue with his crime. The oppositions have to know the game playing with him. Without impartial referee, they have no reason to enter to the field believing he would play a fair game. He has no skill or reason to play a good and fair game. He is working day and night how to play a dirty game to win the result. I have to admire and say to the opposition that they have no reason to afraid or respect him. He is a criminal known to the world. They have many reasons not to be intimidated by him and not to accept his demand. He is forcing them to accept the vote he stolen from the people and if it happened he would accuse them as they also are criminals by not defending the people’s vote. So, the oppositions must stand together with the Ethiopian people and do what is good for the country. No one would intimidate by a little evil creature like him. How tall is he? How is his weight? Bring him to Europe during the windy Season and the wind will take him to the sea. The only thing he has is agazzie of Tigry militia. If the situation is boiling and become serious, this wild and inhuman militias will never cross even the Nile. Brave people in Gonder, Gojjam, Wollega, Wollo will stop it and will be eaten by scavengers. So, the oppositions are and will not intimidate by a criminal who is desperately looking support from the people to cover his crime for the time being.

Email: Defar@hotmail.com

Every time I read this statement from Meles, it boils my blood. I don't understand why he is not being criticzed by the world leaders for making this outrageous statement.

"The opposition were told by the prime minister that they have to make a choice in the coming days on whether they are in or out of the process and face the consequences,"