PRESIDENT Jonathan arrived Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday at the head of a Nigerian delegation to attend the burial of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.Zenawi died August 20 from an undisclosed illness in Brussels, Belgium, after 21 years in power, following the overthrow of former Dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam's Communist military junta in 1991.His body was airlifted to Addis Ababa and received by thousands of mourning nationals.President Jonathan arrived the Bole International Airport for the burial and was received by top ranking Nigerian and Ethiopian officials. He settled in at his hotel and later drove to the Grand (Presidential) Palace to sign the condolence register.Back at the hotel, Jonathan is scheduled to receive Meles' successor, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn.Desalegn would remain in the position of Prime Minister until the country's next elections in 2015. He will be sworn in officially at a forthcoming parliamentary session.The Nigerian leader had in a tribute on August 21, 2012, described Zenawi's death: 'A major loss for Africa. He was a great African statesman, who was also a friend of Nigeria, a nation-builder and a great servant of the Ethiopian people. He held strong convictions about establishing a just and prosperous society for his people, a cause to which he devoted considerable energies, and which deservedly earned him respect and honour among a grateful Ethiopian nation.'Meanwhile, Ethiopians have brushed aside accusations by international rights groups for doing little to bring change on fundamental human rights, and have stepped up preparations for Sunday's state funeral.Ethiopians are rather celebrating Meles as an able African leader of 'immense energy' who helped to inspire Ethiopia's economic growth and development, helping it move from a least developed economy to one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.Ethiopians throughout Addis Ababa and in regional capitals and cities have been mourning the death of the Prime Minister with candle vigils and signing books of condolence. In Addis Ababa, thousands of federal government employees, carrying wreaths, have paid their respects during the lying-in-state at the Grand Palace.Following Zenawi's death, Human Rights Watch said that under the late leader, Ethiopia saw sharp deterioration in civil and political rights, with mounting restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly.The group called on the new Ethiopian leadership to embrace rights reforms in the wake of Zenawi's death.
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