Ethiopia's Meles Zenawi dies of undisclosed illness

Fears for stability after PM's 21-year rule characterised by economic growth and human rights protests from international community

One of Africa's most powerful and divisive leaders, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, has died of an undisclosed illness, it has been announced. He was 57.

During his 21-year rule, Meles turned Ethiopia into one of Africa's fastest-growing economies and proved to be a key US ally in the war on terror. But he was also regarded as an authoritarian strongman whose critics suffered persecution, imprisonment and torture.

Meles had not been seen in public for about two months. He failed to attend a meeting of African Union heads of state in the capital, Addis Ababa, last month, raising speculation about his health.He died "abroad" at around 11.40pm on Monday after contracting an infection, state television said on Tuesday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/21/ethiopia-meles-zenawi-dies-illneses?newsfeed=true