- African heads of state and foreign envoys attend the ceremony
- He is the first leader honored with a state funeral in the nation since 1930
- Ethiopians flood the streets, some in tears, as they clutch posters with his picture
(CNN) -- Ethiopia bid farewell to its prime minister Meles Zenawi on Sunday in the nation's first state funeral in more than 80 years.
Meles, 57, died two weeks ago of an unspecified illness. He had not appeared in public for months, sparking nationwide speculation about his health.
The prime minister, a major U.S. ally, is the first leader honored with a state funeral in the nation since Empress Zauditu in 1930.
A contingent of African heads of state and foreign envoys attended the ceremony in the capital of Addis Ababa. Presidents of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya, and U.S. top envoy to the U.N., Susan Rice, were among leaders expected to pay their respects.
Throngs of Ethiopians flooded the streets, some in tears, as they clutched posters with his picture.
In days leading up to the funeral, Zenawi's flag-draped coffin lay at the national palace for a public viewing.
The public funeral started at a major square in the capital, where his body arrived in a horse-drawn carriage from the palace. Meles will be laid to rest in the Holy Trinity Church behind the palace, where famed Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie is buried.
Meles was credited with working toward peace and security in the region, and was instrumental in peace talks between Sudan and South Sudan. He dispatched Ethiopian troops to battle militants in Somalia, and is a major player in the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia, a key Western ally, is often lauded for effective use of aid money. It has remained relatively peaceful in the unstable horn of Africa region.
"The Ethiopian people can find comfort in and be proud of the fact that the late Meles could be counted among the very limited circle of those who had gained international respect and credibility for what they achieved for their country and their people," the African Union said.
Meles came to the forefront as a leader of a guerrilla insurgency against dictator Haile Mengistu Mariam in 1991, and cemented power in the ensuing decades.
However, human rights groups accused his government of a heavy hand and a series of abuses, including limiting press freedoms and cracking down on the opposition.
"He came to power at the barrel of a gun, but he made the transition from rebel leader to political leader very quickly," said Ayo Johnson, director of Viewpoint Africa.
Though he did not have a good human rights record, the West turned a blind eye to his shortcomings because he battled Islamist movements in the region, a major concern for the U.S., according to Johnson.
Meles' relatively unknown successor, Hailemariam Desalegn, served as his deputy.
The next scheduled ballot is in 2015, government officials said.
CNN's Richard Greene contributed to this report.
