The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, has resigned amid deadly anti-government protests, state TV reports.
In a televised address, he said his resignation was “vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy”.
Mr Hailemariam, who has led the country since 2012, also stepped down as chairman of the ruling coalition.
His departure follows a national state of emergency that ended last year.
Ethiopia’s largest regions, Oromia and Amhara, have seen waves of demonstrations in recent months.
In the latest violence, 10 people were killed and dozens more injured following an opposition protest.
The BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza, in the capital Addis Ababa, says the government has released thousands of opposition supporters from jail, but the protests have continued.
