Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Dies at 57

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died at the age of 57, state TV announced on Tuesday. The Ethiopian prime minister has been absent from the public eye for over two months. He died around 11.45 pm local time on Monday.

• Meles Zenawi has been sick for the last four months and was receiving medical treatment for two months in Europe over undisclosed illness.

• He was said to be recovering in the last two weeks and was expected to be back in office before Ethiopian new-year 2005 turning in on September 11.

• However, Zenawi’s illness became worse in past few days, leading to his death.

• Foreign media outlets have learned that Deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister Hailemariam Desalegn will be the acting Prime Minister on a temporary basis.