Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Ethiopia is Voting for New Parliament VOA News 23 May 2010 Ethiopian women wait to cast their vote Sunday, May 23, 2010 at a poling station in Mojo, Ethiopia, 70 km south of Addis Ababa Photo: AP Ethiopian women wait to cast their vote Sunday, May 23, 2010 at a poling station in Mojo, Ethiopia, 70 km south of Addis Ababa Voters in Ethiopia are electing a new parliament for the first time since the disputed 2005 poll that triggered protests and violence. The ruling EPRDF coalition is predicting a landslide victory in what the government pledged would be a fair and transparent election Sunday. However, leaders of the main opposition coalition, Medrek, say their observers have been denied access to polling stations around the country. During a tense election campaign, Medrek accused the EPRDF of trying to harrass and intimidate opponents. Both sides blamed the other for the deaths of at least two people. Witnesses say the early hours of voting Sunday were peaceful, and that voter turnout appeared to be high. Ethiopia's 32 million registered voters are electing 547 lawmakers. Final results are not expected until June 21. Sunday's parliamentary election is the fourth since the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front seized power in 1991. In 2005, riots broke out in the capital, Addis Ababa, after the EPRDF was named the winner. Government forces killed nearly 200 demonstrators and arrested about 100 opposition figures who challenged the results. Analysts say that this time, the EPRDF is likely to retain its lock on power. But critics are questioning whether the results will reflect the people's will.  Opposition party leaders say some voters have been told the ruling party can see their ballots, which are supposed to be secret.  In a recent report, Human Rights Watch says the EPRDF uses its control of state media and people's livelihoods to ensure support and suppress dissent. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .