By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
 
August 03, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia has once again rebuffed media reports about the health of prime minister, Meles Zenawi.

Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi (EPA)

In an interview with the state-run Ethiopian Television (ETV), information minister, Bereket Simon, said Zenawi’s health has improved during the past few days following treatment in Europe.

“The Prime Minister’s health is now in much better condition after his treatment” he said adding, “he is taking some rest”.

Simon’s address on state television follows an a broadcast on exiled Ethiopian TV broadcaster ESAT on Monday, claiming Zenawi was deceased citing reliable sources in the International Crises Group (ICG).

However, ICG dismissed the claims, saying it has no direct knowledge of Zenawi’s health condition.

Simon said the latest reports are “campaigns of fabrications”.
 
He said “those forces are fabricating speculations about the health of PM Meles to the extent of quoting international organizations like ICG, something the organization denied”

Speculation about Zenawi’s health peaked after the long-time Ethiopian leader failed to attend the Africa Union Assembly held in Addis Ababa recently.

The last time Zenawi appeared in public during the G20 summit in Mexico in June.

There are no official reports from the government regarding the nature of Zenawi’s illness or country or the country in which he is receiving treatment.

According to opposition groups Zenawi is suffering from brain cancer. It is thought that he received treatment at the Saint Luc University Hospital in Brussels; an allegation the refused to confirm.

57 year old Zenawi has been Ethiopian leader since he assumed power in 1991 coup.

(ST)