Prime Minister Meles Zenawi appeared to be in an upbeat mood on late Wednesday afternoon, June 24, 2009, when speaking to the international media and journalists from the English press. He was witty in his remarks and directly answered some of the personal questions.

The press conference, which now appears to be held consistently, approximately every two months, was called on the backdrop of the sensational statements he gave to the international press the same week.

"I'm simply thinking aloud," Meles told Bloomberg, the business news service. "My guess is this is going to boil-down to plus or minus a year or two."

What he told the Financial Times in an interview he had the same week was rather forceful. He would "almost kill" to set a precedence in becoming the first Ethiopian leader to leave office while alive.

This is not new but it seems it comes back more strongly than ever when the party is getting close to make its final decision scheduled for September. The debate and discussions within the rank and file of the ruling EPRDF is underway. Many categorically reject the possibility of his departure from office after 18 years, despite his forceful remarks that he "had enough".

"Winners don't quit; and quitters don't win," has now become a voice resonating within the party and its supporters outside.

"You have silent admirers and supporters both at home and abroad," reads a letter of appeal written by one of his supporters who lives in the United Kingdom, and posted late last week on Aiga Forum, a pro-EPRDF blog hosted by its supporters in California.

Ironically, this message comes from him over and over again at a time when he says he is content with his political career. A father of three and 54 years of age, he would leave office with great satisfaction, he told the press conference on Wednesday.

"I'm perhaps more comfortable with my political life than I've ever been for a long period," Meles said.

His comfort comes from his views that the past 10 years in particular have been a "most rewarding experience", according to sources close to him. He believes the ruling party under his leadership has put the country into a growth trajectory after many decades of stagnation. For the first time in the economic history of this country, the economy has recorded growth for five consecutive years, although the rate and sustainability of this expansion as well as its distribution has always been a subject of fierce debate.

Continuity and deepening of this growth, which the EPRDF leadership described as "scaling up" is at the core of the debate in the camp of the Revolutionary Democrats. Their leader's role in the challenges of continuity is seen by many as crucial.

"Can you consider staying on until 2015 as both the prime minister and chairman of the EPRDF," pleads his supporter from the UK. "Ethiopia, today, needs a no-nonsense Meles to deal with galloping Somali Jihadists."

Although some sources claim that the Prime Minister himself is undecided about leaving office, for he may think one more term could solidify the growth trajectory, he says he is not indispensable. He seems to be eager to show his other side.

"I'm not a lone gunner," Meles told the Financial Times.