Polling stations across Ethiopia opened for Sunday's polls which 58 political parties compete for regional councils and federal parliament, ENA reported.

Electorates have started to queue outside polling stations starting from 4:00AM, 2 hours prior to the opening of the polls.

Reporters in Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Harari, Oromiya, Tigray and South Ethiopia Peoples' states as well as city administrations of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa witnessed the opening of the polling stations at 6:00AM.

Close to 37 million electorates registered to cast their votes in the country's fifth general election.

Civic societies and the African Union are observing the polls being held in at more than 45,000 polling stations.