ETHIOPIA: Election board chief arrested on corruption charges
ADDIS ABABA, 30 APRIL 2003 (IRIN) - The head of Ethiopia’s National Election Board has been arrested on charges of corruption and is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

Assefa Birru was held on Monday at the central police department in Addis Ababa after being accused of abuse of power by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

This is one of the most high profile arrests by the anti-corruption task force. Assefa is also the first person in the country to be charged with “obstructing” its work.

“Let this be a warning to other officials,” Abraham Gozguze from the commission told IRIN. “Unless we fight corruption we will not build this country.” MORE