- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
TEHRAN, February 15 - Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned Thursday after long-running political turmoil, an unprecedented move in the vast East African country.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - The decision by Hailemariam, in power since 2012, comes after months of escalating anti-government protests and signs of growing splits within the country's ruling coalition.
In a broadcast on state television, Hailemariam said he had worked hard to solve the problems in Ethiopia, but that he believed his resignation was also part of the solution.
"My decision is to be part of the ongoing reform programs," Hailemariam said, according to state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
"I believe my party and government will make history again by conducting (a) peaceful power transition," he added.
Hailemariam will remain in power until parliament and the full council of the ruling coalition party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), confirm his resignation. It remains unclear who will take over after that.
The streets of the capital Addis Ababa were calm following the surprise announcement.
Ushered into office after the death of former prime minister Meles Zenawi, a one-time Marxist who had led the rebellion that overthrew the Communist Derg regime, Hailemariam transformed from a relatively little-known politician to a technocrat and influential leader.
While Ethiopia is one of Africa's poorest countries, Hailemariam continued a streak of rapid economic growth.
Unlike many in the ruling elite, Hailemariam was not part of the rebel movement which toppled the Derg.
Instead he was studying civil engineering in Addis Ababa, was completing his master's degree at Finland's Tampere University when the dictator fell.
Source: AFP
Your Comment