Funeral of PM Meles Zenawi, who passed away last Monday night at the age of 57, will be held on 2 Sept. 2012, the national committee set up to organize the funeral proceedings said.

Committee Chairperson and Speaker of the House of Federation, Kassa Tekleberhan said here Thursday that different sub-committees have been formed to coordinate the funeral proceedings.

A final goodbye ceremony will be organized at the Grand Palace, Kassa said, adding, higher level government officials, council members, government employees, city residents, arts, media and sports professionals will express condolences as per a schedule, which will be prepared for the same purpose.

Similarly, representatives of authors, the business community, professional associations, nations, nationalities and peoples, elders and also prominent individuals will express their condolences, he said.

He said a three-day program will be organized at Meskel Square in the capital to enable the public say final goodbye to the leader.

Kassa said similar programs will be organized at regional capitals beginning from August 24 until Sept.1, 2012 to enable the public residing in different regional states express condolence over the death of PM Meles.

Likewise, another program will be organized at the Grand Palace for foreign diplomats living in Ethiopia for the same purpose.

Leaders of various countries and well-known personalities are expected to attend the funeral of PM Meles, who ruled Ethiopia for 21 years, he said.

Meanwhile, the committee expressed heartfelt appreciation to the thousands of residents of Addis Ababa, who turned out to the streets of the city and escorted the body of Meles from the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to his official residence.

The Chairperson said different ceremonies being organized by the public to mourn indicate that Meles was a great leader.

Kassa also said utmost efforts will be exerted more than ever to realize the vision of PM Meles towards development of the country.

Meles won international recognition for his lifelong contribution to Ethiopia’s development and his key role in mediating regional conflicts.

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Source: Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) – Aug. 23, 2012. Originally titled “Funeral of PM Meles to be held on 2 Sept. 2012”.

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