well, you are back aha, what is you reaseon andrew? anyways. I think they both did fine substance wise. But as usual Meles lies and Hailu brags. what is new was Meles was nervous for the first time and Hailu was fragmented for the first time as well.

It was devestating to see Hailu shawel in these manner, It was more of an argument than interview with the CUD supremo, even the BBC guy is indisbleaf what he was hearing. What does he mean,when he said that the G8 shouldn't cancell Ethiopia's debt, it doesnt matter wheather Ethiopia s under tyranny or bloody dictator or serial killer, it is one thing to panish the ruling party and completelly different to punish the people at large. I think the leadership of CUD has to do some soul searching on the capacity of their leader. If there was an American style, T.V, debate of Melles vs Hailu, These guy Hailu wouldn't stand a chance, against the silver tangued polished politician of the EPRDF. That is how, it is reffered in the INTERNATIONL media. The CUD leader should have come with substance, instead of wasting the only real WORLD prime time exposure he got on the BBC. Talking about TEKLEHAYMANOT SEFFER,wouldn't take him out of Teklehaimanot seffer, Even Sucker didn't understand, what the heck is talking about. I mean a smart politician wouldn't waste a golden apportunity, of exposure to over half of the world population, to mention the ADDIS neighborhoods, or was he running to be the Mayor of ADDIS, instead of being PM OF Ethiopia.

Andrew!

Many people will tell you hailu did much worse. Though Hailu was asked much lighter questions than Meles he did horrible. This interview gave Ethiopians the side of Hailu Shawle they did not know. I don't think he can recover for his debacle. meles on the other hand handled himself better.

The king is naked

The interview of BBC was realy an eye opening and the Opposition leader has done a teriblle job then Melles. He miss the geatest and rare apportunity to show Ethiopians and to some extent the world, why he want to be a prime minister of Ethiopia. However THANKS to BBC,now he is much known for what he was and what he stands for to the silent majority of Ethiopians in diaspora. This guy has no principle, by being part of the brutall regime(even by African standard)and his alibi was, to raise his children. What about those who lost their life living their children behind to liberate their people.

For a leader, who aspire to lead the country(God Forbid) why is he talking about Tigrayans or Oromo etc? A leader who want to unite the country must talk about Ethiopians not nationalitis of Ethiopia.

These is person,who is not fit to lead a Kebelle let alone a country. Thankyou STEVEN SUCKER for exposing these old wanabe ditator.
The only good i see about him was his make up, the make up artist has done a wonderfull job of colouring his hair and moustache to rejuvinate,and hide his real age.

well hardtalk is good. it keeps in check politicians. did you notice how the interviewer twisted the same questions to test both men. and both failed. you can read on meles face his anger, and the unease of hailu. of course meles came out good he had the experience, it is just sad that he forgot to check in on the needs of his people now and then the way he did with international community. it is suprising that Hailu failed right in the trap.

The interview was very fair but it showed more of the incompetence of Hailu Shawel, and how experienced and well prepared Meles Zenawi is . But the one thing it missed to ask Hailu was why he was part of the former Megstu H/Mariam's regime government(who killed 1.5 million Ethiopian civilians in genocide ), and why he went along with the genocide of Mengstu's , after all he was a high ranking Minster during the regime time .

And how does he think the Ethiopian people will ever trust him with power after being part of the genocide which he apologized for?