Election monitors and journalists this morning have observed election irregularities in southern Ethiopian town of Awassa where Southern Regional state president Shiferaw Shigute is a candidate. Ethiopian Review sources are reporting that when election observers and journalists arrived at polling stations, ballot boxes were already unsealed and unauthorized individuals had access to them.

Similar voting irregularities and intimidation of opposition candidates and supporters are being reported in other parts of the country as well. Officials of the major opposition bloc, Medrek, told reporters that they are being followed by the ruling party’s security forces.

In Addis Ababa, few voters turned out to vote compared to the 2005 elections 5 years ago. In some polling stations there are were no observers.

In Tigray region’s town of Temben, Medrek election observers have been chased away from polling stations, according to Ato Seye Abraha, a spokesman for Medrek. Heavy gun shots were also heard near the town of Adwa yesterday, and on Friday fighter jets flew over Meleke, Ato Seye told reporters this morning.

… more report shortly