Tigray ,Amhara States Council elect administrators

MAKALLE, October 06, 2005- The new Tigray State Council yesterday elected Tsegaye Berhe President of the state.

The Council in its first conference held yesterday elected Dr. Wolde-Rufael Alemayehu Speaker of the Council.

Abadi Zemo and Shewaye Tkui were elected Deputy President and Deputy Speaker of the state, respectively.

Speaker of the state, Dr. Wolde-Rufael Alemayehu had served as administrator of the eastern zone.

The speaker, president and deputy presidents of the state were sworn in.

Similarly, the third round council of the Amhara State has elected Ayalew Gobeze as President of the state.

The founding conference of the state council has also elected speaker and deputy speaker of the new council.

Accordingly, the Council has elected Dr. Misrak Mekonnen, who had served as Deputy Speaker of the departing council, as Speaker and Getachew Ambaye as Deputy Speaker of the council.

Ayalew Gobeze, who was nominated by the Amhara Nation Democratic Movement (ANDM/EPRDF), that occupied most seats of the council, had served as Vice-President of the state, Head of Finance and Economic Development Bureau of the state and Speaker of the Council.

The council is expected to approve appointment of vice-president and cabinet members of the state on its second day meeting.

It was also indicated that the council will discuss on the reformed code of conduct of council members, legislative procedures and organization of committees. 

Some 187 of the new Amhara State Council members are nominated by the ANDM/EPRDF, while the rest 107 are nominated by the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).

Speaker of the Council, Dr. Misrak Mekommen said some of the council members nominated by the CUD attended the conference.

Meanwhile, the departing council of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State Council has concluded its 11th regular conference yesterday.

Certificates were given for members of the departing council.

The council, during the two day-meeting, had heard performance reports of the state during the past year.

The newly elected council is expected to begin its founding conference while 271 representatives of the South Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM/EPRDF) and 77 candidates of various contestant parties are expected to attend the conference.  (END)