ADDIS ABABA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Head of the exiled Oromo Democratic Front (ODF), Lencho Leta, said Wednesday that major political reforms in Ethiopia have persuaded his group to pursue peaceful political struggle at home.
Leta made the remarks in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa following his return to Ethiopia with a five-member negotiating team of ODF, an exiled opposition group that represents Ethiopia's largest Oromia regional state.
The ODF, established in 2013 having broken away from the outlawed rebel group the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), had recently revealed its initial talks with the Ethiopian government.
According to Leta, his group has decided to return to the East African nation following the ongoing reforms, which he said is encouraging to carry out peaceful political struggle.
Members of the negotiating team were received by high-level Ethiopian government officials upon arrival, including Abadula Gemeda, Security Advisor to the PM, and Ahmed Shide, Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office.
The negotiating team that arrived in Addis Ababa Wednesday includes Lencho Leta and Dima Negewo, chairman and deputy chairman of the group, who are recognized as at the forefront of the political struggle in Ethiopia, particularly among its largest Oromo ethnic group.
"We will continue the talks which we have started with the government," state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate quoted Leta as saying on Wednesday.
"Based on conditions, we will decide to operate as a legal political party or by forming alliance with other parties," he added.
The first round of negotiations between the Ethiopian government and ODF last week came shortly after the statement by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, regarding widening up the political landscape.
Ahmed, during his swearing in ceremony last month, stressed his ambitions and readiness to engage with critics both at home and abroad.
The Ethiopian Government Communications Affairs Office (GCAO) also on Tuesday called on other exiled opposition groups abroad to consider peaceful ways by operating at home.
