Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died at the age of 57, state media in the East African nation announced on Tuesday, following weeks of speculation about his health, according to dpa. Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn is to take over the post in an acting role. Government spokesman Bereket Simon said the prime minister died abroad the previous night from complications from a "sudden infection." "He was struggling with his health for a year, in the past 10 weeks he was under the attention of medical services abroad," Simon told reporters in Addis Ababa. Zenawi was reportedly admitted to hospital in Belgium in July for reasons which remain unconfirmed. Simon had then said the premier was in good health and dismissed allegations that Zenawi's condition was critical. Opposition groups said the premier had not made a public appearance in the 60 days prior to the announcement.
