Ethiopian premier in surprise resignation

Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn has resigned after the worst anti-government protests in a quarter of a century, saying he hoped the surprise decision would help planned reforms succeed and create a “lasting peace”.

“I want to be part of the solution,” he said. “I believe that the public’s demands and questions should be met and answered.” It was not immediately clear whether politicians had accepted the resignation.

Ethiopia has been rocked by months of protests demanding wider freedoms that have left hundreds dead and tens of thousands detained.

The government recently released more than 6,500 detained opposition figures, journalists and others after Desalegn said he wanted to “widen the democratic space for all”.