Addis Ababa, February 11, 2008 (WIC) - More than 1.8 million voters have been registered in two zones and two town administrations of SNNP and Amhara states, according to election officials.

Sidama Zone and Hawassa Provisional Administration Election Coordination Office Head Berhanu Dukamo told WIC that 1,005,344 voters have collected IDs. Some 95 percent of the eligible voters were therefore registered in the localities, according to the head.

Similarly, more than 873,000 voters were registered in Eastern Gojjam Zone of Amhara State and Bahirdar Town Special Zone, the zonal election coordinators said.

In related news, the Oromo People's Democratic Organization has fielded 11,800 candidates in Gursum Woreda of Oromia State. Some 30 percent of those candidates were women, he said, adding that the candidates were evaluated and endorsed by the public.
 

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