Zambian
President Michael Sata has died at the age of 77 after receiving treatment for
an undisclosed illness, the government says.
President
Sata, who was being treated in the UK, died in London's King Edward VII
hospital on Tuesday night.
Media
said that he died after "a sudden onset [of] heightened heart rate".
It
is not immediately clear who will succeed the president. The issue may be
decided by the Zambian cabinet which meets on Wednesday morning.
"It
is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing on of our beloved
president," cabinet secretary Roland Msiska said.
His
death comes just days after Zambia celebrated the 50th anniversary of
independence from the UK.
Earlier
this month reports in Zambia said that President Sata had gone abroad for a
medical check-up amid persistent speculation that he was seriously ill.
After
he left the country, Defence Minister Edgar Lungu was named as acting
president.
Vice-President
Guy Scott has regularly stood in for the president at official events. But he
is of Scottish descent and his parents were not born in Zambia, so he may fall
foul of a constitutional clause on parentage which would nullify his candidacy.
Known
as "King Cobra" for his venomous tongue, Mr Sata was elected Zambia's
president in 2011.
Source:AIT
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