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Ethiopians electing a new parliament today May 23 , 2010 for the first time since a flawed 2005 poll that resulted in violence. follow the updated election  and related  News from Ethiopiaforums.com

Ethiopian electoral agents prepare a polling station on May 22, 2010 in Addis Ababa ahead of the fourth national elections scheduled for May 23. Some 32 million voters have been registered for the May 23 elections which Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is expected to win. Ethiopia‘s last elections in 2005 in which the opposition scored unprecendented gains ended in violence that claimed some 200 lives after they accused Zenawi of rigging the vote.

An Ethiopian electoral agent checks on a voting booth on May 22, 2010 in Addis Ababa ahead of the fourth national elections scheduled for May 23. Some 32 million voters have been registered for the May 23 elections which Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is expected to win. Ethiopia‘s last elections in 2005 in which the opposition scored unprecendented gains ended in violence that claimed some 200 lives after they accused Zenawi of rigging the vote.

An Ethiopian electoral agent delivers election materials at a polling center on May 22, 2010 in Addis Ababa ahead of the 4th round general election scheduled for May 23. Some 32 million voters have been registered for the May 23 elections which Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is expected to win. Ethiopia‘s last elections in 2005 in which the opposition scored unprecendented gains ended in violence that claimed some 200 lives after they accused Zenawi of rigging the vote.

"Eection Card" for elections in Ethiopia in May 2010

An Ethiopian woman casts her vote Sunday, May 23, 2010 at a poling station in Nazret, Ethiopia, 100 km south of Addis Ababa. Ethiopians began voting in national elections Sunday, in a vote closely watched by international observers and by critics who say the U.S.-allied ruling party has intimidated voters and challengers to secure an easyvictory.

Ethiopians walk from their voting booths at a polling centre in the capital Addis Ababa, May 23, 2010. Ethiopians voted on Sunday in national elections that are expected to return long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power in the first ballot since a disputed poll in 2005 turned violent.

An electoral official verifies a voter’s card against the official list at a polling centre in Ethiopia‘s capital Addis Ababa, May 23, 2010.

Ethiopians wait in line to cast their votes in Addis Ababa on May 23, 2010. ( SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images)

A policewoman stands guard outside a polling station in the capital Addis Ababa May 23, 2010.

Supporters of Ethiopia‘s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi hold their national flags as they cheer him outside a polling station in the northern town of Adwa, 985 km (612 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, May 23, 2010. Ethiopians voted on Sunday in national elections that are expected to return long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power in the first ballot since a disputed poll in 2005 turned violent.

Meles Zenawi escorted after casting his ballot in the northern Ethiopian town of Adwa. SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (C) is escorted after casting his ballot in the northern Ethiopian town of Adwa, his constituency and birthplace, 985 km (612 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, May 23, 2010. Ethiopians voted on Sunday in national elections that are expected to return long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power in the first ballot since a disputed poll in 2005 turned violent.

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Meles Zenawi escorted after casting his ballot in the northern Ethiopian town of Adwa, his constituency and birthplace, 985 km (612 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, May 23, 2010.AFP PHOTO/SIMON MAINA (Photo credit SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrives to cast his vote at a polling station in Adwa 900km north, on May 23,2010 of the capital Addis Ababa. Ethiopians began voting in legislative elections Sunday as Prime Minister Meles Zenawi appeared set to extend his 19-year-old rule over sub-Saharan Africa‘s second most populous country. With the country’s most charismatic opposition figure in prison and what rights groups have criticised as shrinking political freedom in recent years, the 55-year-old strongman seemed assured of being comfortably re-elected.

Meles Zenawi in Adwa has his finger marked moments after casting his vote in at polling station in Adwa, photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has his finger marked moments after casting his vote in at polling station in Adwa, 900km north of the capital Addis Ababa, on May 22, 2010.

Ethiopia‘s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi walks before casting his vote in the northern Ethiopian town of Adwa, his constituency and birthplace, 985 km (612 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, May 23, 2010. Ethiopians voted on Sunday in national elections that are expected to return long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to power in the first ballot since a disputed poll in 2005 turned violent.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi casts his vote on May 23, 2010 at a polling station in Adwa, 900 kms north of the capital Addis Ababa.

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European Union chief electoral observer Thijs Berman addresses a news conference at a polling station after it was closed in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa May 23, 2010

Chairman of the Ethiopian National Electoral Board (NEBE) Merga Bekana addresses a news conference in the capital Addis Ababa, May 24, 2010 , where he unveiled the provisional result of the votes. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's ruling party won a national election according to provisional results, the electoral board said on Monday, a victory that would extend his time in office to nearly 25 years.

Ethiopian Federal policemen hold off charging supporters of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi during a rally at the Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, May 25, 2010. Zenawi urged the international community on Tuesday to respect his landslide election win and said foreign forces could not overturn the outcome and blood should not be shed.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (C), amid heavy security, lifts his cap to salute supporters of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party at the Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, May 25, 2010.

Supporters of the ruling Ethiopian Revolutionary People's Democratic Front (EPRDF) party and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi chant slogans after he addressed them at the Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, May 25, 2010.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi stands behind a transparent bullet-proof screen as he addresses supporters of the (EPRDF)

Police kept watch as hundreds of thousands of government supporters celebrated Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after the ruling party swept parliamentary elections Sunday. International observers said election standards “fell short.” (Simon Maina/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

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