President “will stay” as head

Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada, said he had resolved to continue serving as head of state despite a campaign to discredit him. He said he would continue to serve as a member of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation (OPDO) and as head of state, despite a campaign of “false and negative propaganda” against him, the pro-government Walta Information Centre reported on 29 June. He would, however, reconsider his position if the propaganda targeting him continued, Walta said.

In an open letter to the OPDO, the president defended his walkout from a meeting of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) council, saying his action had been in accordance with the country’s constitution.

President Gidada was expelled from the EPRDF and his own OPDO on 22 June, after walking out of an EPRDF council meeting, complaining of pressure from the chairman of the council, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Walta said. The president called on Ethiopian Television to broadcast the complete proceedings of the council meeting of 18 to 22 June, and complained that the portion shown had been deliberately chosen as a means to discredit him.