UEDF Chairman Dr. Beyene Petros, Vice Chair Prof. Merera Gudina, and Secretary General Dr. Admasu Gebeyehu, who met with the prime minister in the latter's office last week, had demanded that the Electoral Commission - set up under the tutelage of the ruling EPRDF regime - be dissolved and a new Electoral Commission be formed prior to the national elections.

Meles also warned his government would take action if any of those armed groups embraced as UEDF coalition members venture into the country.

UEDF was formed in August 2003 in Washington DC by 15 opposition parties with the hope to bring an end to the 13-year-old government of masked Eritrean agent Meles Zenawi. With the hope for fair elections now practically killed, the opposition would be forced to develop alternative ways for the ouster of the Eritrean leader in command of state power in Ethiopia. Details would come soon.