According to the European Union's chief observer turnout was high with the parliamentary votes being "peaceful and calm". There were some few glitches in certain areas.

Reuters news agency said a leader of the biggest opposition coalition Medrek, Gizachew Shiferaw, drew swift condemnation from election officials on Sunday after he said on state televison the vote had not been democratic.

Speaking to Reuters as he flew to the capital Addis Ababa after casting his vote in the northern Tigray region, Meles said once people were in the polling booth they could vote as they pleased and intimidation would not affect the result.

"Imagine a government which has delivered double-digit growth rates for over seven years losing an election anywhere on earth. It is unheard of for such a phenomenon to happen," he said.

The opposition felt it had been cheated out of victory five years ago but admits it has little chance of winning this time. It says this is because the EPRDF has tightened its grip on power and routinely intimidates and jails its critics.

"In the vast majority of polling stations, the elections were well organised," the EU's chief observer Thijs Berman said.