Ethiopia's powerful leader Meles Zenawi dies

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died from a sudden infection while recovering from an undisclosed illness at a hospital abroad, the African nation's state-run television said on Tuesday.

 Speculation that Meles, 57, was seriously ill grew after he failed to attend an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last month.

 "Prime Minister Zenawi suddenly passed away last night. Meles was recovering in a hospital overseas for the past two months but died of a sudden infection at 11:40," state television said.

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Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi welcomed by President Yoweri Museveni at Entebbe International Airport on a state visit on August.28.2006 Photo by Kennedy Oryema

 State media said Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn would be the acting prime minister.

 Ethiopia's government said last month that Meles was taking a break to recover from an unspecified condition. Diplomats in Addis Ababa had said Meles was being treated in Brussels from an undisclosed illness, while others said he was in Germany.

 Meles has been in power since ousting Mengistu Haile Mariam's military junta in 1991. He served as president from 1991 to 1995, when he became prime minister.

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Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi inspects a guard of honour at Entebbe Airport on August.28.2006 Photo: Kennedy Oryema

 He won praise in the West for helping spur economic growth and for his army's support against al Qaeda-linked militants in neighboring Somalia.

 But he also has been accused of crushing dissent, using national security concerns as an excuse to silence opposition figures and journalists. The government has dismissed those accusations.

Reuters