This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19454253
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 9 | Version 10 |
---|---|
Thousands of Ethiopians attend Meles Zenawi burial | Thousands of Ethiopians attend Meles Zenawi burial |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Thousands of people have been attending the state funeral in Addis Ababa of Ethiopia's long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died last month. | Thousands of people have been attending the state funeral in Addis Ababa of Ethiopia's long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died last month. |
Mr Meles' flag-draped coffin was carried from his palace to the city's Meskel Square for a ceremony, then buried at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. | Mr Meles' flag-draped coffin was carried from his palace to the city's Meskel Square for a ceremony, then buried at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. |
Dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries, including at least 20 African presidents, were present. | Dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries, including at least 20 African presidents, were present. |
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 for a leader in more than 80 years - began in Meskel Square after a journey of about an hour-and-a-half from Mr Meles' official residence, the Grand National Palace. | The state funeral - Ethiopia's first for a leader in more than 80 years - began in Meskel Square after a journey of about an hour-and-a-half from Mr Meles' official residence, the Grand National Palace. |
After several hours, the coffin was taken to the city's Holy Trinity Cathedral in heavy rain for the burial. | After several hours, the coffin was taken to the city's Holy Trinity Cathedral in heavy rain for the burial. |
The casket was lowered into a grave and covered with stone slabs, as wailing crowds jostled around the burial site. | The casket was lowered into a grave and covered with stone slabs, as wailing crowds jostled around the burial site. |
The coffin was accompanied by hundreds of mourners, including Mr Meles' widow Azeb Mesfin, who was seen being comforted by officials. | The coffin was accompanied by hundreds of mourners, including Mr Meles' widow Azeb Mesfin, who was seen being comforted by officials. |
African presidents attending include South Africa's Jacob Zuma and 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. | African presidents attending include South Africa's Jacob Zuma and 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. |
Many of them paid tribute to the former prime minister. | Many of them paid tribute to the former prime minister. |
President Boni Yayi of Benin, which currently holds the presidency of the African Union, said: "With his energy, vision and fight for the achievement of a free and prosperous Africa, the late Meles Zenawi... was a force... on which the African Union depended in these last 10 years." | President Boni Yayi of Benin, which currently holds the presidency of the African Union, said: "With his energy, vision and fight for the achievement of a free and prosperous Africa, the late Meles Zenawi... was a force... on which the African Union depended in these last 10 years." |
President Zuma said: "We are proud of Meles Zenawi, and the leadership he provided on issues affecting the continent and around the globe." | President Zuma said: "We are proud of Meles Zenawi, and the leadership he provided on issues affecting the continent and around the globe." |
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, praised his vision and foresight. | The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, praised his vision and foresight. |
"He wasn't just brilliant, he wasn't just a relentless negotiator and a formidable debater, he wasn't just a thirsty consumer of knowledge - he was uncommonly wise, able to see the big picture and the long game, even when others would allow immediate pressures to overwhelm sound judgement," she said. | "He wasn't just brilliant, he wasn't just a relentless negotiator and a formidable debater, he wasn't just a thirsty consumer of knowledge - he was uncommonly wise, able to see the big picture and the long game, even when others would allow immediate pressures to overwhelm sound judgement," she said. |
"Those rare traits were the foundations of his greatest contributions." | "Those rare traits were the foundations of his greatest contributions." |
The prime minister was a former Marxist rebel and not publicly religious, but was brought up as an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. | The prime minister was a former Marxist rebel and not publicly religious, but was brought up as an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. |
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. |
Regional role | Regional role |
Mr Meles became a dominant figure in the region after toppling dictator Mengistu Hailemariam 21 years ago. | Mr Meles became a dominant figure in the region after 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. |