Sources confirm polling in several Ethiopian regions has been abruptly suspended as armed clashes erupt near voting stations. Uncovered documents show the UK Foreign Office is pressing for immediate calm, fearing a collapse of the already fragile electoral process. Witnesses report gunfire in the Amhara and Oromia zones where ballots were due to be cast today.
The government claims it is 'temporarily halting' the vote to protect citizens, but critics say the real motive is to suppress dissent in areas where opposition support runs deep. I have seen the cables: London is quietly preparing for a worst-case scenario, with contingency plans for evacuating embassy staff if the violence spreads. The suspension throws the entire election into doubt and risks igniting a broader conflict in a nation already scarred by civil war.
No word yet on when or if voting will resume. The situation is fluid and extremely dangerous.
