Ethiopia's re-run votes counted

Ethiopian students staged protests after the May election

The votes are being counted in Ethiopia after a partial re-run of May's disputed general election.

Voting took place in more than 30 seats where there had been complaints of fraud during the initial poll.

Voters also went to the polls in the Somali region, three months later than the rest of the country.

Some 40 people protesting against the alleged fraud were killed in May when police opened fire. Sunday's vote will not change the shape of parliament.

The Somali region is one of the poorest parts of the Horn of Africa, and voting there was initially made difficult by heavy rains, poor communications and the local population's nomadic lifestyle, officials said.

Separatist rebels remain active there, and residents often complain with good reason that they are neglected by the government in Addis Ababa, the BBC's Grant Ferret says.

Opposition's complaints

There were delays and queues at some polling stations during Sunday's vote.

All the seats in the Somali region are currently held by allies of the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Mr Meles will be hoping that will remain the case, and that he will be able to increase further his party's unassailable lead.

But the re-run parts of the election has also once again highlighted the opposition's concerns, our correspondent says.

They have complained that many of these constituencies are held by their candidates.

Information Minister Berekat Simon is one high-profile loser in the initial vote who is hoping to re-gain his seat.