Chip Hughes, age 13, of Haggerstown, Md., for his question:

WHO WAS HAILE SELASSIE?

Haile Selassie I was the last emperor of Ethiopia, a country located in north Africa.

Selassie was a grandnephew of Emperor Menelik II. In 1916 he ousted Menelik's successor and replaced him with Zauditu, the old emperor's daughter, and he made himself regent.

In 1930 when Zauditu died, the regent succeeded her, taking the name Haile Selassie I, which means "Might of The Trinity." His other titles included Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God and King of Kings.

In 1935 the Italians invaded Ethiopia and Selassie went into exile in England. There he helped the British plan the campaign that led to the liberation of Ethiopia and his return to power in 1942.

An attempt to overthrow Selassie in 1960 was aborted by loyalist factions. By 1974, however, worsening conditions    corruption in government, inflation, drought, starvation and his hesitancy in dealing with these and other emergencies    led to a revolt by the army and Selassie's removal from power. He was formally deposed in September 1974 and died the following year in Addis Ababa.