Meles Zenawi, former Prime Minister of Ethipia has died today (21st
August 2012) at the age of 57 in a hospital in Brussels, Belgium. Close
ally of the United States and key figure in the economic and political
architecture of East Africa for the last 20 years, Zenawi took power in
1991 in a coup d'ete that overthrew communist leader Mengistu Haile
Mariam.

Zenawi was the President of Ethiopia from 1987 until 1995, but it was in
this year that he actually became Prime minster until his recent death.
The causes of his decease are still not known but it is rumoured he had
been suffering an illness for the last few months related to to physical
extenuation.