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Nigeria President Yar'Adua 'dead' | Nigeria President Yar'Adua 'dead' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Fifty-eight-year-old Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua died at his presidential villa on Wednesday, state TV has said. | Fifty-eight-year-old Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua died at his presidential villa on Wednesday, state TV has said. |
A presidential aide and the information minister confirmed his death. Mr Yar'Adua, who became president in 2007, had been ill for some time. | |
The government announced seven days of national mourning and said the president would be buried on Thursday. | The government announced seven days of national mourning and said the president would be buried on Thursday. |
Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan - who became acting president in February - will be sworn in later, reports say. | Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan - who became acting president in February - will be sworn in later, reports say. |
The Nigerian Television Authority interrupted its normal programming to announce the news, in a brief statement early on Thursday. | The Nigerian Television Authority interrupted its normal programming to announce the news, in a brief statement early on Thursday. |
The announcer said: "The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, died a few hours ago at the presidential villa. | The announcer said: "The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, died a few hours ago at the presidential villa. |
"Security aides notified the national security adviser, General Anou Bissou, who immediately called the acting president. The late president has been ill for some time." | "Security aides notified the national security adviser, General Anou Bissou, who immediately called the acting president. The late president has been ill for some time." |
Mr Yar'Adua, a Muslim, will be laid to rest later on Thursday in his home state of Katsina, in the north of the country. | Mr Yar'Adua, a Muslim, will be laid to rest later on Thursday in his home state of Katsina, in the north of the country. |
Heart condition | Heart condition |
Reports from Nigeria said Mr Yar'Adua died between 2100 (2000 GMT) and 2200 (2100 GMT) on Wednesday in the capital, Abuja. | Reports from Nigeria said Mr Yar'Adua died between 2100 (2000 GMT) and 2200 (2100 GMT) on Wednesday in the capital, Abuja. |
In November, Mr Yar'Adua went to a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for several months, during which time he was not heard from, apart from a BBC interview. | In November, Mr Yar'Adua went to a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for several months, during which time he was not heard from, apart from a BBC interview. |
He told the BBC by telephone in January that he was recovering and hoped with "tremendous progress" to resume his duties. | He told the BBC by telephone in January that he was recovering and hoped with "tremendous progress" to resume his duties. |
A presidential spokesman said at the time that he was being treated for acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart. | A presidential spokesman said at the time that he was being treated for acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart. |
His long absence and the lack of detailed information about his health led to a political limbo in Nigeria that was only filled when Mr Jonathan was named acting president. | His long absence and the lack of detailed information about his health led to a political limbo in Nigeria that was only filled when Mr Jonathan was named acting president. |
Mr Yar'Adua returned to Nigeria later in February, but Mr Jonathan remained as acting president. | Mr Yar'Adua returned to Nigeria later in February, but Mr Jonathan remained as acting president. |
There had been tension between the two men's supporters and in March Mr Jonathan dissolved the cabinet and later put his own team in place. | There had been tension between the two men's supporters and in March Mr Jonathan dissolved the cabinet and later put his own team in place. |
Elections were scheduled for next year. | Elections were scheduled for next year. |
Mr Yar'Adua's election in 2007 marked the first transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigeria's independence in 1960. | Mr Yar'Adua's election in 2007 marked the first transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigeria's independence in 1960. |
He came to power promising a long list of reforms, including tackling corruption and reforming the inadequate power sector and the flawed electoral system. | He came to power promising a long list of reforms, including tackling corruption and reforming the inadequate power sector and the flawed electoral system. |
But the area in which analysts say he made the most progress was in tackling the unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta, by offering an amnesty to rebels. | But the area in which analysts say he made the most progress was in tackling the unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta, by offering an amnesty to rebels. |
Mr Yar'Adua was seen as a straight man, a quiet, religious person who was a good administrator, says the BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut. | Mr Yar'Adua was seen as a straight man, a quiet, religious person who was a good administrator, says the BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut. |
But his continuous illness hampered his efforts at reform, our analyst says. | But his continuous illness hampered his efforts at reform, our analyst says. |
Are you in Nigeria? Send us your comments in reaction to this story using the form below. | Are you in Nigeria? Send us your comments in reaction to this story using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |