Ethiopia expels pro-democracy groups

[expatriot]

Ethiopia expels pro-democracy groups

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=qw1112261402988E312

Addis Ababa - Ethiopia has expelled three United States-funded pro-democracy groups ahead of the country's upcoming elections, alleging that their offices were not properly accredited, the US embassy here and officials with the organisations said on Thursday.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI) and IFES, formerly the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, were informed of the decision on Wednesday.

"The three organisations have been asked to leave the country," said Robert Arbuckle, a spokesperson for the US embassy in Addis Ababa, adding that Washington was "disappointed" with the decision and hoped it would be reversed.

"We are in the process of discussing the situation with the government," he said. "We are disappointed that the government has chosen... to stop working with IRI, NDI and IFES."

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[denverbill]

1. I don't know much about Ethiopia.

But I know enough about the NDI and IRI to know they only favor democracy when the democracy protects the wealthy. They sure as hell don't support democracy in Venezuala.