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Africa leaders attend Meles Zenawi burial | Africa leaders attend Meles Zenawi burial |
(35 minutes later) | |
African leaders are attending the state funeral in Addis Ababa of Ethiopia's long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died last month. | African leaders are attending the state funeral in Addis Ababa of Ethiopia's long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died last month. |
Foreign dignitaries joined ordinary Ethiopians in paying their respects as his body lay in state in the National Palace. | Foreign dignitaries joined ordinary Ethiopians in paying their respects as his body lay in state in the National Palace. |
Mr Meles died at the age of 57 in Brussels, following a long illness. | Mr Meles died at the age of 57 in Brussels, following a long illness. |
He came to power in 1991 and was credited for bringing development and growth to Ethiopia. | He came to power in 1991 and was credited for bringing development and growth to Ethiopia. |
But critics say this was achieved at the cost of respect for human rights. | But critics say this was achieved at the cost of respect for human rights. |
The state funeral - Ethiopia's first in more than 80 years - is beginning in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, from where Mr Meles' flag-draped coffin will be taken for burial at the city's Holy Trinity Cathedral. | |
The prime minister was a former Marxist rebel and not publicly religious, but was brought up as an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley reports. | The prime minister was a former Marxist rebel and not publicly religious, but was brought up as an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley reports. |
In contrast to the secrecy traditionally surrounding the deaths of Ethiopian leaders, the ceremony is being broadcast live, and huge screens have been erected in cities and villages around the country. | In contrast to the secrecy traditionally surrounding the deaths of Ethiopian leaders, the ceremony is being broadcast live, and huge screens have been erected in cities and villages around the country. |
The last Ethiopian leader to be honoured with a state funeral was the Empress Zauditu in 1930. | The last Ethiopian leader to be honoured with a state funeral was the Empress Zauditu in 1930. |
At least 20 African presidents are attending the funeral, as well as several prominent international figures including Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. | At least 20 African presidents are attending the funeral, as well as several prominent international figures including Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. |
One of them, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete laid a wreath next to Mr Meles' coffin on Saturday. | One of them, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete laid a wreath next to Mr Meles' coffin on Saturday. |
He paid tribute to Mr Meles' "charm, his intellect, his passion for Africa's development", adding that he was "a kind of leader that you can trust". | He paid tribute to Mr Meles' "charm, his intellect, his passion for Africa's development", adding that he was "a kind of leader that you can trust". |
Rwandan President Paul Kagame honoured Mr Meles as "a gallant fighter for freedom not only for Ethiopia and Ethiopian people, but also Africa". | Rwandan President Paul Kagame honoured Mr Meles as "a gallant fighter for freedom not only for Ethiopia and Ethiopian people, but also Africa". |
Also attending is Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on several counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the Darfur conflict. | Also attending is Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on several counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the Darfur conflict. |
Regional role | Regional role |
Mr Meles became a dominant figure in the region after toppling toppling dictator Mengistu Hailemariam 21 years ago. | Mr Meles became a dominant figure in the region after toppling toppling dictator Mengistu Hailemariam 21 years ago. |
He ordered Ethiopian troops to intervene against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia, mediated in the conflict in Sudan and South Sudan, and took a leading position in the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. | He ordered Ethiopian troops to intervene against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia, mediated in the conflict in Sudan and South Sudan, and took a leading position in the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. |
Mr Meles will be succeeded by his deputy, Hailemariam Desalegn, 47, a relatively little-known politician from the south of Ethiopia. | Mr Meles will be succeeded by his deputy, Hailemariam Desalegn, 47, a relatively little-known politician from the south of Ethiopia. |
Mr Hailemariam will formally take over as prime minister after Mr Meles' funeral, and will serve until elections in 2015. | Mr Hailemariam will formally take over as prime minister after Mr Meles' funeral, and will serve until elections in 2015. |
Some observers have voiced fears about the political transition. | Some observers have voiced fears about the political transition. |
The Brussels-based think tank, the Crisis Group, has warned that Mr Hailemariam will lead a weaker government that will face mounting grievances along ethnic and religious lines. | The Brussels-based think tank, the Crisis Group, has warned that Mr Hailemariam will lead a weaker government that will face mounting grievances along ethnic and religious lines. |
Mr Meles died suddenly from an infection on 20 August while being treated in hospital in Brussels. | Mr Meles died suddenly from an infection on 20 August while being treated in hospital in Brussels. |
He had not been seen in public for weeks before his death was announced, and there had been increasingly intense speculation about his health. | He had not been seen in public for weeks before his death was announced, and there had been increasingly intense speculation about his health. |