Ethiopia's president criticises PM

The general is a powerful ally of Meles Zenawi

By Nita Bhalla in Addis Ababa

Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada has accused the ruling EPRDF party of effectively carrying out a "coup", by appointing an army general to head one of the four main parties in the coalition government.

The president's office has confirmed that Dr Gidada wrote a letter to the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organisation (OPDO), saying that last month's appointment of General Abadula Gemeda to the helm of the party was an "illegal act".

The general, who was commander of the ground forces, is a close ally of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi and critics claim his timely move into politics, is an attempt by the prime minister to consolidate his position in the face of rising political dissent.

After days of mounting speculation in the media, the president's office yesterday confirmed Dr Negasso's comments to the BBC.

The president also accused the OPDO of preventing his letters from reaching the media and informing the Ethiopian public about the simmering power struggle with the party which has marked by political purges and resulted in defections, arrests and dismissals.

Political struggle

In recent months the president has been critical of the leadership of Meles Zenawi and in June, he was dismissed from the party after he walked out of a key government meeting.

The EPRDF government has been facing serious internal problems as Mr Meles grapples to instigate a renewal movement in the party after a decade of rule.

Those that disagree have challenged the prime minister, and splits, defections and arrests have resulted.

Earlier this month, the speaker of Ethiopia's upper chamber of parliament defected to the United States.

And last night the exiled Oromo Liberation Front, an armed separatist opposition group, announced that the security head of the Oromia region and former administrator of Ethiopia's Bale Zone had fled the country.

General Gemeda is a strong supporter of Meles Zenawi and many believe his appointment is an attempt by the prime minister to consolidate his position amidst all this dissent.

Sceptics add the general could prove a very valuable ally to the prime minister, as he commands considerable support within the rank and file of the army.

But the president's recent remarks are likely to increase tensions and although his term as head of state expires next month, supporters say he is unlikely to go quietly.