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Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi dies after illness Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi dies after illness
(40 minutes later)
  
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died at the age of 57, state media say, after weeks of illness. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died aged 57 after months of illness, the government says.
A government spokesman said Mr Meles had died in a hospital abroad - but did not say exactly where or give details of his ailment. A spokesman said Mr Meles had died in a hospital abroad - but did not specify where or give details of his ailment.
Speculation about his health mounted when he missed an African Union summit in Addis Ababa last month.Speculation about his health mounted when he missed an African Union summit in Addis Ababa last month.
Mr Meles took power as the leader of rebels that ousted communist leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991. Mr Meles took power as the leader of rebels that ousted communist leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991 and led the country's economic transformation.
He had dominated Ethiopian public life since the 1990s, as president and then prime minister. Meles Zenawi's death will have repercussions far beyond his country.
He was undeniably central to everything in Ethiopia - the good and the bad, the economic growth and development, as well as the repressive climate denounced by opposition politicians and journalists.
But he also played a key role in the region.
Since Mr Meles took power in 1991, Ethiopia has seen Eritrea secede, then fought a war with the new country. It also twice sent troops into Somalia to fight militants linked to al-Qaeda.
Ethiopia also has peacekeepers in Abyei, the border region claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.
Political leaders in all these countries will be carrying out rapid calculations about what Mr Meles' death means for them.
The West has also lost a key ally in the Horn of Africa.
Now the attention will switch to whether Mr Meles built a strong enough system to outlast him.
He was austere and hardworking, with a discipline forged from years spent in the guerrilla movement - and almost never smiled, says Elizabeth Blunt, the BBC's former correspondent in Addis Ababa.He was austere and hardworking, with a discipline forged from years spent in the guerrilla movement - and almost never smiled, says Elizabeth Blunt, the BBC's former correspondent in Addis Ababa.
Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga told the BBC he feared for the stability of Ethiopia following Mr Meles' death. He said the situation in the country was fragile and ethnic violence continued to be a threat.Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga told the BBC he feared for the stability of Ethiopia following Mr Meles' death. He said the situation in the country was fragile and ethnic violence continued to be a threat.
'Sudden infection''Sudden infection'
Ethiopia's Council of Ministers announced "with great sadness the untimely death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi" in a statement, state TV reported.Ethiopia's Council of Ministers announced "with great sadness the untimely death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi" in a statement, state TV reported.
"The premier [had] been receiving medical treatment abroad for the past two months and his health was improving, but due to a sudden infection which occurred [on Sunday], he went back to hospital for emergency treatment, and even if a lot of medical attention was given by his doctors, he died yesterday at around 23:40," the statement said. "The premier [had] been receiving medical treatment abroad for the past two months and his health was improving, but due to a sudden infection which occurred [on Sunday], he went back to hospital for emergency treatment, and even if a lot of medical attention was given by his doctors, he died yesterday [Monday] at around 23:40," the statement said.
Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also Ethiopia's foreign minister, will be acting head of government, state television said.Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also Ethiopia's foreign minister, will be acting head of government, state television said.
"Even if Ethiopia has been badly affected for missing its great leader, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi initiated fundamental policies and strategies which will be further strengthened," the TV said. Government spokesman Bereket Simon later told Reuters news agency Mr Meles had struggled with illness for a year.
But he insisted Ethiopia was stable and "everything will continue as charted" by the late prime minister.
This theme was echoed by state television, which stated that "even if Ethiopia has been badly affected for missing its great leader, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi initiated fundamental policies and strategies which will be further strengthened".
It broadcast footage of Meles accompanied by solemn instrumental music.It broadcast footage of Meles accompanied by solemn instrumental music.
Mr Meles had not been seen in public for some eight weeks prior to his death, and was reported to have been admitted to hospital in July.Mr Meles had not been seen in public for some eight weeks prior to his death, and was reported to have been admitted to hospital in July.
Three weeks ago, government spokesman Bereket Simon told the BBC that he was in "a good condition and recuperating", and dismissed reports he was critically ill. Three weeks ago, spokesman Mr Bereket told the BBC that he was in "a good condition and recuperating", and dismissed reports he was critically ill.
At the time he declined to give any details about Mr Meles' whereabouts or what he was suffering from.At the time he declined to give any details about Mr Meles' whereabouts or what he was suffering from.
Some reports suggested Mr Meles was in hospital in Belgium, suffering from a stomach complaint. Other reports said he was in Germany.Some reports suggested Mr Meles was in hospital in Belgium, suffering from a stomach complaint. Other reports said he was in Germany.
Rights concernsRights concerns
Ethiopia's economy has grown rapidly in recent years, despite the secession of Eritrea and the subsequent war between the two countries.Ethiopia's economy has grown rapidly in recent years, despite the secession of Eritrea and the subsequent war between the two countries.
Under Mr Meles, Ethiopia became a staunch US ally, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in aid over the years, and hosting the US military drones that patrol East Africa.Under Mr Meles, Ethiopia became a staunch US ally, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in aid over the years, and hosting the US military drones that patrol East Africa.
He won accolades from the West for sending troops to battle Islamist militants in Somalia, says the BBC's James Copnall.He won accolades from the West for sending troops to battle Islamist militants in Somalia, says the BBC's James Copnall.
But concern had been growing about the lack of democracy and human rights in Ethiopia, our correspondent in the region says.But concern had been growing about the lack of democracy and human rights in Ethiopia, our correspondent in the region says.
At least 200 people died in the violence that followed the 2005 elections, and many journalists and politicians have been locked up.At least 200 people died in the violence that followed the 2005 elections, and many journalists and politicians have been locked up.