Ethiopia conducts fifth edition of general elections

Ethiopians are casting ballots on Sunday in general elections to elect the political party which will rule the country for the next five years.

It is the fifth time the country holds general elections after the throw of the Derg regime in 1991.

36.8 million voters in the country of 94.1 million have registered to vote for the elections in which 58 political parties are contending for the 547-seat parliament and for seats on the country's regional state councils.

Preliminary results are expected to be announced in about three days after the polling day, according to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

Casting his vote at one of the 45,000 polling stations, Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome told reporters that the process is peaceful with mass public participation.

"Our people, all nations and nationalities of Ethiopia are taking part in this national election. That is very peaceful; and all our people are taking it as national agenda," said the president.

Some of the voters told Xinhua in Addis Ababa they participated in the election to vote for the political party whom they believe should run the country for the coming five years.

"I vote for the party, which I believe will bring good things and ensure peace and development in the country," said Kasech Gulma, a resident in Kirkos sub-city.

Shiferaw Desta is an election coordinator at one of the polling stations in Bole sub-city of Addis Ababa.

"At our polling station, 636 male and 380 female, in total 1016 voters have been registered. So far, the people have been casting the ballots; they are still in queue to vote; everything is going on smoothly," said Shiferaw.