Electoral board appeals for peaceful poll

Elections in Ethiopia could be affected if widespread violence occurs in the run-up to polling, the chairman of the country's national election board (NEB) warned on Tuesday. Kemal Bedri, the country's chief justice, spoke out after confirming that two people were killed in recent attacks. "We can assure the opposition that if there are abuses, we will take action," Kemal told journalists. The Coalition for Unity and Democracy said the attacks last month were meant to intimidate opposition leaders in the run-up to national elections, set for 15 May. Kemal rejected claims by the opposition group that as many as 14 people were killed and dozens wounded in clashes, saying the evidence had never been presented to them. "Our role is to ensure free and fair elections and we will do that," he said. "The elections will be held peacefully as they have [been] before. If the incidents are of such gravity that it could affect the outcome then the NEB can freeze the elections and order a re-election." The attacks, which were investigated by NEB officials, took place in the northeastern region of eastern Gojam on 19 January, he added. Kemal said that the men behind the attacks were now in jail facing trial. Earlier this month the coalition said in a statement: "We will continue to keep struggling - despite the continued human rights and election law violations by the government." Kemal's warning came as the NEB announced funding of US $1.6 million from western nations for civic and voter education ahead of polling day. The money is being provided to 24 civic organizations to raise awareness countrywide on the elections and to political parties which are taking part. "The civic and voter education is intended to target the less literate and low income population and especially women and adolescents across all regions of Ethiopia," Modibo Toure, the UN Development Programme's resident representative in Ethiopia, said. The upcoming general elections will be the third democratic ballot in Ethiopia's history. The country has a two-house parliament: the 110-seat upper House of the Federation and the 547-seat lower House of People's Representatives. More than 25 of Ethiopia's 70 million people have registered to vote. Voter registration continues until the end of February.