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| Ex-Ethiopia leader swaps parties | Ex-Ethiopia leader swaps parties |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ethiopia's former President Negasso Gidada has joined an opposition party, as the country builds up to an election scheduled for next May. | Ethiopia's former President Negasso Gidada has joined an opposition party, as the country builds up to an election scheduled for next May. |
| Mr Negasso, in power between 1995 and 2001, said he had joined the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) to try to unite Ethiopia. | Mr Negasso, in power between 1995 and 2001, said he had joined the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) to try to unite Ethiopia. |
| Analysts say his defection and that of ex-Defence Minister Seye Abraha are likely to boost the UDJ's popularity. | Analysts say his defection and that of ex-Defence Minister Seye Abraha are likely to boost the UDJ's popularity. |
| Its leader Birtukan Medeksa has been in prison since the last poll, in 2005. | |
| She was arrested after violence broke out when opposition parties organised protests, citing election fraud. | |
| Some rights groups have accused Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of trying to ensure election victory by suppressing opposition - allegations he denies. | Some rights groups have accused Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of trying to ensure election victory by suppressing opposition - allegations he denies. |
| The BBC's Uduak Amimo in Addis Ababa says the two defections are a significant symbol of opposition to the government. | The BBC's Uduak Amimo in Addis Ababa says the two defections are a significant symbol of opposition to the government. |
| But she says the UDJ and its allies are unlikely to overhaul the governing party in next year's election. | But she says the UDJ and its allies are unlikely to overhaul the governing party in next year's election. |
| Mr Gidada, whose role as president was largely symbolic, is said to be a popular politician. | Mr Gidada, whose role as president was largely symbolic, is said to be a popular politician. |
| He told Reuters news agency: "Our joining the UDJ sends a signal that we have to work hard for the unity of the country and the Ethiopian people." | He told Reuters news agency: "Our joining the UDJ sends a signal that we have to work hard for the unity of the country and the Ethiopian people." |