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Ethiopia Parliament Votes to Lift Opposition Lawmakers' Immunity

11 October 2005

Ethiopia's parliament has stripped opposition lawmakers of their immunity from prosecution.

The action Tuesday came one day after members of a main opposition group boycotted the opening session of the legislature over last May's disputed parliamentary elections.

A total of 334 legislators voted in favor of lifting only opposition members' immunity, while 35 voted against and two lawmakers abstained.

The party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi holds 327 seats in the 547-seat parliament.
 
The opposition has rejected the results of the May 15 poll, charging massive fraud.

International monitors, including the European Union, have expressed concern about aspects of the vote, including ballot counting and post-election investigations. But they call the vote, overall, an advance for democracy.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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