Human Rights Watch: Ethiopian Authorities use Aid to Bribe Voters

Ethiopia's government has been giving foreign aid to voters in exchange for their political support of the ruling party, Human Rights Watch says.

The US-based group says in a report that local officials regularly deny aid to people who oppose the government.

It urged donors to make sure their aid money was distributed transparently.

Ethiopia is one of the world's largest recipient of development aid - and in 2008 international donations to the country totalled $3bn (£1.8bn).

Its government has not yet commented on the report but has rejected similar accusations in the past.