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The 1960 Coup Against Haile Selassie

How Ethiopia's Emperor was almost overthrown in a bloody coup. We speak to Dr Asfa-Wossen Asserate, the grand nephew of Haile Selassie, about the plot.

In December 1960, while the Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie, was out of the country, his Imperial Bodyguard took over the capital Addis Ababa and proclaimed his son the new emperor. We speak to Dr Asfa-Wossen Asserate, the grand nephew of Haile Selassie, about the coup. Dr Asfa-Wossen is the author of King of Kings, a new history of Haile Selassie's rule. Photo: Emperor Haile Selassie in the Royal Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, circa 1960. (Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

50 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 Dec 201504:06GMT
BBC World Service Australasia

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  • Sat 19 Dec 201509:06GMT
    BBC World Service Online, UK DAB/Freeview & Americas and the Caribbean only
  • Sun 20 Dec 201502:06GMT
    BBC World Service except Australasia & News Internet
  • Sun 20 Dec 201522:06GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet & West and Central Africa
  • Mon 21 Dec 201504:06GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia

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