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Former UN head Kurt Waldheim dies Former UN head Kurt Waldheim dies
(10 minutes later)
The former United Nations Secretary General Kurt Josef Waldheim has died aged 88, Austrian media has reported.The former United Nations Secretary General Kurt Josef Waldheim has died aged 88, Austrian media has reported.
The career of Mr Waldheim, who headed the UN from 1972 to 1982, was overshadowed by a scandal about his secretive World War II service.The career of Mr Waldheim, who headed the UN from 1972 to 1982, was overshadowed by a scandal about his secretive World War II service.
Despite allegations he belonged to a German army unit that committed atrocities in the Balkans, he was elected Austria's president in 1986.Despite allegations he belonged to a German army unit that committed atrocities in the Balkans, he was elected Austria's president in 1986.
Admitted to hospital in Vienna last month, he died of heart failure.Admitted to hospital in Vienna last month, he died of heart failure.
Initial denialInitial denial
The allegations arose in 1986, shortly after his nomination for the role of Austrian president.The allegations arose in 1986, shortly after his nomination for the role of Austrian president.
The World Jewish Congress claimed he had been an officer attached to a German Army command which sent more than 42,000 Greek Jews from Salonika to their deaths, and was responsible for the massacre of thousands of Yugoslavs in the Kozara mountains.The World Jewish Congress claimed he had been an officer attached to a German Army command which sent more than 42,000 Greek Jews from Salonika to their deaths, and was responsible for the massacre of thousands of Yugoslavs in the Kozara mountains.
Mr Waldheim's initial denial of the allegations followed by his subsequent assertion that he was only doing his duty - caused international outrage. Mr Waldheim's initial denial of the allegations - followed by his subsequent assertion that he was only doing his duty - caused international outrage.
"Day after day, I have been relentlessly pursued over events which happened forty or more years ago," he said during an interview in 1988. "Day after day, I have been relentlessly pursued over events which happened 40 or more years ago," he said during an interview in 1988.
"My enemies kept bringing up new charges against me and promising new evidence. But this evidence never appeared.""My enemies kept bringing up new charges against me and promising new evidence. But this evidence never appeared."
Many Austrians did not believe the accusations against the man they elected president.
But they sparked international censure. The US, for example, banned him from ever visiting the country.