Zambian president dies in Paris

Tuscaloosa News.Net
Tuesday 19th August, 2008

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has died in the Percy Military Hospital in Paris after being hospitalised there for more than a month.

Vice-president Banda has appeared on television in Zambia in an appeal to his fellow citizens to remain calm.

He announced that Zambia would observe a seven-day mourning.

Mwanawasa, who was around 60 years of age, suffered a stroke on June 29 in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt, where he was to attend the African Union summit.

He was admitted into Sharm-el-Sheik International Hospital and transferred on July 1 to the Percy Military Hospital in Paris.

The president's condition suddenly worsened Sunday night.

According to the Zambian Constitution, a presidential election is to be called within 90 days if the president dies in office.

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