Ethiopians in their tens of thousands thronged the capital's main square Tuesday to hear Prime Minister Meles Zenawi salute his party's victory in Sunday's polls from behind bullet-proof glass.

Several hundred police officers patrolled Meskel Square in Addis Abeba where supporters of the ruling EPRDF waved flags, chanted victory songs and slammed Human Rights Watch for "meddling in internal affairs".

The event came one day after the national electoral panel announced preliminary results indicating that Meles' coalition was headed for a landslide win in all regions, including traditional opposition strongholds.

Standing inside a bullet-proof glass cage and under the watchful eyes of his bodyguards, Meles acknowledged "shortcomings" in his party's rule to date and pledged to improve the lives of his countrymen.

"We only know as of now the partial results, but we have been able to observe that people have chosen the party that they have faith in," he said to cheering crowds who interrupted his speech a number of times.

"We admit that we made mistakes in the past, but we realise the heavy responsibility that we have on our shoulders," Meles said.

"I give you my word that we will start work from tomorrow to continue the good work and rectify the shortcomings," the former guerrilla leader added.

Meles also took a swipe at opposition leaders who came out with accusations of foul play.

A senior rival candidate told AFP on Tuesday that Sunday's polls were riddled with fraud, while New York-based Human Rights Watch accused the government of intimidating voters and imposing unlawful restrictions ahead of the poll.

"Some opposition parties have deliberately delayed the arrival of their observers with the hope of undermining the vote. But, as you all observed, they did not succeed," Meles told the crowd.

In reconciliatory mode however, he went on to tell opposition parties that as long as they respect the constitutional order "we promise you we will always seek your hand in addressing the problems of our nation and you will never be left out".

Dressed in the national colours of green, yellow and red, supporters also slammed Human Rights Watch for interference, with some singing patriotic songs dating back to Ethiopia's victory over colonial Italian forces in World War II.

"Human Rights Watch, keep your hands off the ballot box!" read one poster carried by a young woman in a roaring crowd.

"It (HRW) has ulterior motives and is bent on destabilising our country, not on fighting for rights," a master of ceremonies said amid roars from the crowd before Meles arrived on the scene.

The demonstrations in the capital were preceded by similar events in southern towns of Adama and Awassa, and in Mekelle in the northern Tigray province from which Meles hails.

By SAPA