Iran's President Condoles Ethiopian Counterpart On Demise Of PM Zenawi

Tehran, Sept 6, IRNA – Iran's President in a message addressed to his Ethiopian counterpart, condoled with him, his government and Ethiopian nation on demise of late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condoled with the President of the Democratic Federal Republic of Ethiopia Girma Wolde Giorgis on the sad occasion, the official information website reported Wednesday night. The head of the Non-Aligned Movement has while expressing sympathy with Ethiopia’s President Wolde Giorgis, also condoled with the Ethiopian nation and government and prayed to Almighty Allah for the salvation of the soul of the bygone Ethiopian PM and the showering of His blessings on his soul, as well a great patients for the bereaved family members of that esteemed personality and prosperity and well beings of the Ethiopian nation and government. Ethiopians held the funeral of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, whose coffin arrived in the capital, Addis Ababa, from Belgium on Sunday. Tens of thousands of mourners followed the late premier’s coffin from the National Palace to the Meskel Square in Addis Ababa. Zenawi died at the age of 57 in a hospital in Belgium two weeks ago. Several African heads of state and foreign dignitaries also attended the state funeral. They were welcomed by Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who will take over until national elections in 2015. “All his initiatives will keep moving forward, all the transformation plans will progress,” Desalegn said./end