President Sharif sends condolences to Ethiopians over Zenawi’s death

Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Somalia’s outgoing president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Tuesday sent his condolences to the Ethiopian government and its people following the death of the country’s strong man Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who died in a hospital in abroad on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference inside Mogadishu’s main airport, President Sharif said the fallen Ethiopian leader was a significant figure in the Horn of Africa.

He said he was in good terms with Meles Zenawi before his death and used to see things from the same perspective despite their past records.

The president said they shared common position when it comes to regional security matters, saying they both advocated for lasting peace in the horn of Africa as well as stronger relations between horn of African countries and their people.

The Ethiopian government said Zenawi has died age 57 in a hospital abroad-but did not give details. An EU spokesman later told journalists that he had died in Brussels, Belgium, according to the BBC.

Mr Meles had not been seen in public for weeks and speculation about his health mounted when he missed a summit in Addis Ababa last month.

Mr Meles took power as the leader of rebels that ousted communist leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.

He is credited with spearheading economic development in Ethiopia – but, critics charge, at the price of respect for human rights.