Court overturns controversial law

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Ethiopia's high court on Tuesday overturned a controversial law that had effectively banned thousands of local observers from monitoring the country's 15 May national election.

Judge Brehanu Teshome said the new ruling, introduced last month by the country's National Election Board, "contravened" the laws of the country.

The ruling, which came just 12 days before polling, meant local groups could now field election observers to monitor Ethiopia's third-ever democratic elections.