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Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie to run for parliament | Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie to run for parliament |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ethiopian athletics star Haile Gebrselassie says he is entering politics with the aim of winning a parliamentary seat in the 2015 election. | Ethiopian athletics star Haile Gebrselassie says he is entering politics with the aim of winning a parliamentary seat in the 2015 election. |
The 40-year-old's announcement follows long-standing rumours that his athletics career is drawing to a close. | |
Mr Haile, a two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, is regarded as a national icon by most Ethiopians. | Mr Haile, a two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, is regarded as a national icon by most Ethiopians. |
He has not said under which party's banner he will contest the election. | He has not said under which party's banner he will contest the election. |
Ethiopia's parliament is dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). It has only one opposition MP. | Ethiopia's parliament is dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). It has only one opposition MP. |
'Help my country' | 'Help my country' |
"A lot of messages in the news about me going into politics," Mr Haile said on Twitter. | "A lot of messages in the news about me going into politics," Mr Haile said on Twitter. |
"Yes, I want to be in the parliament in 2015 to help my country to move forward." | "Yes, I want to be in the parliament in 2015 to help my country to move forward." |
Mr Haile is a four-time world 10,000m champion and won gold at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. | Mr Haile is a four-time world 10,000m champion and won gold at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. |
He officially announced his retirement in 2010 but then went on to compete in races after recovering from a knee injury. | He officially announced his retirement in 2010 but then went on to compete in races after recovering from a knee injury. |
In April, he won his third consecutive Vienna half marathon and also took part in the Boston marathon, which was hit by a double bomb attack that killed three people. | In April, he won his third consecutive Vienna half marathon and also took part in the Boston marathon, which was hit by a double bomb attack that killed three people. |
The EPRDF is accused by rights groups of leading a highly repressive regime, using anti-terrorism law as a pretext to imprison opposition activists and journalists. | The EPRDF is accused by rights groups of leading a highly repressive regime, using anti-terrorism law as a pretext to imprison opposition activists and journalists. |
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