ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia was to hold an emergency session of Parliament to swear in the country's new prime minister after Meles Zenawi passed away on Monday evening. But acting Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn had his swearing in ceremony pushed back in order for officials to attend the funeral of the late Ethiopian Orthodox Church leader Abune Paulos. The delay was not immediately announced, but most of the country's top leadership, including Desalegn, were among those who attended the funeral service. The funeral for Meles, who ruled Ethiopia for 21 years, has not yet been set. That funeral is expected to see a number of global leaders attend. According to The Associate Press “Hailemariam is a relatively young figure on Ethiopia's political scene and it's not clear if old guard leaders will allow him to hold onto the prime minister's seat until 2015 elections.”
