Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi died of an infection while being treated abroad for an undisclosed illness, state-run television said on Tuesday (August 21).
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.
Meles seized power in 1991 from Mengistu Haile Mariam's military junta.
During his time in office Meles was credited with steering Ethiopia towards economic growth and also helped mediate in several regional disputes, including rifts between Sudan and South Sudan.
However, international rights groups say Meles was intolerant of dissent. Several opposition figures and journalists have been arrested under a 2009 anti-terrorism law.
