The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) has withdrawn from tomorrow's and next Sunday's local and by-elections citing serious violations of the electoral laws and undue pressure put on its candidates.

In a press conference held at the headquarters of the party on Thursday, the party chairman, Prof Beyene Petros, outlined the reasons that pushed the party to consider withdrawing its candidates from the election.

"This is a moment of truth in which we call a spade a spade... Our participation in the election amounts to endorsing the election," Beyene told journalists.

UEDF accuses local administrations and the ruling party's (EPRDF) cadres of intimidating its candidates and in some cases inflicting physical harm on them.

UEDF says that since it began its move to register candidates, members of local administrations and EPRDF cadres had been snatching registration forms from its candidates.

Is also accuses kebele administrators of confiscating documents from candidates and chasing them away from registration centers.

UEDF complained about the absence of election officials from their offices when its candidates went there to register.

A more serious accusation was thrown at police members and armed cadres who have allegedly apprehended UEDF people whom they thought would run for the election by presenting a non-existent warrant: the candidates were later chased from the vicinity.

Beyene said that UEDF had been asking the National Electoral Board (NEB) to resolve seven issues in order to make it possible for it to continue to participate in the election.

These include the assignment of independent election officials, the election of community observers in the presence of UEDF as stipulated in the electoral law, the deployment of local and foreign election monitors, the registration of UEDF candidates who have been denied the chance to register earlier, a fair allocation of time on TV, the suspension of the recently instituted election campaign code of conduct, and the release of party activists and compensation for those who lost their properties as a result of assaults they suffered at the hands of EPRDF supporters.

Some UEDF members of parliament have been beaten up, according to party leaders, when they were trying to have the party's candidates registered.

Beyene bitterly accused NEB people of creating all possible obstacles to make things harder for the UEDF candidates.

"It is the NEB representatives that have been going out of their way to frustrate the registration of our candidates," he said, adding, "Those at NEB headquarters and those at the bottom are playing a cat-and-mouse game."

Asked whether the party would bar candidates who want to continue participation in the election, Beyene said that when the party withdrew, all candidates are expected to follow suit.

"We won't accept candidates who will continue to engage in the election. At least we won't endorse them," Beyene added.

UEDF deputy chairman Dr Merera Gudina said that following the May 2005 nationwide elections, the ruling party made a self-assessment and reached a conclusion that it can not win in a fair election.

"That's why," Merera said, "they resorted to eliminating or stopping candidates, especially from relatively stronger opposition parties, from continuing their participation in the election."       

By Bruck Shewareged