The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) — and its associated parties who control all seats in the legislature — passed the decree with 346 votes in favour. But 88 MPs voted against the measure, seven voted to abstain and 98 lawmakers who were present did not vote at all, a shift from the last emergency decree nearly two years ago, which Parliament approved unanimously, according to the state-run Ethiopian News Agency. "With this vote, the (decree) is passed," Parliament speaker Abadula Gemeda, who last year temporarily resigned over "disrespect" to his ethnic group the Oromos, announced to enthusiastic applause after the tally. "Under the last state of emergency, we documented a series of grave human rights violations," the rights group's Secretary-General Salil Shetty said in a statement. The latest state of emergency was declared in the wake of Hailemariam's surprise resignation.

Source: Ethiopian News March 02, 2018 14:48 UTC