This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19327913#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Veteran Malta Labour politician Dom Mintoff dies at 96 | Veteran Malta Labour politician Dom Mintoff dies at 96 |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Former Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, who played a dominant role in the island's politics for decades before and after its independence from the UK, has died, aged 96. | |
| Mintoff was leader of the centre-left Labour Party in 1949-84, and was prime minister twice, including in 1971-84. | Mintoff was leader of the centre-left Labour Party in 1949-84, and was prime minister twice, including in 1971-84. |
| He was known for his confrontational style and fiery speeches. | He was known for his confrontational style and fiery speeches. |
| As prime minister, he often clashed with the powerful Catholic Church and greatly expanded Malta's welfare state. | As prime minister, he often clashed with the powerful Catholic Church and greatly expanded Malta's welfare state. |
| Mr Mintoff died at his villa near the capital, Valletta, on Monday. | Mr Mintoff died at his villa near the capital, Valletta, on Monday. |
| Born in 1916 as the son of a Maltese cook in Britain's Royal Navy, he studied at Oxford University. | |
| After a rapid rise in the Maltese Labour Party, he first became prime minister of the then British colony in 1955. | |
| But he resigned only three years later when his campaign for integration with the UK collapsed in the face of fierce opposition from the Catholic Church. | |
| Later, he switched sides to become an ardent supporter of Maltese independence, which was achieved in 1964, albeit under the rival centre-right Nationalist Party. | |
| Disputes with Britain | |
| But it was during Mr Mintoff's second term as prime minister that Malta cut its ties with the British monarchy and became a republic in 1974. | |
| He also personally led the talks that ushered in the end of Britain's 200-year-old naval presence on the island in 1979. | |
| As a counterbalance to waning British support, Mintoff established close ties with Col Muammar Gaddafi's Libya. | |
| He also forged relations with communist China, while keeping the Soviet Union at arm's length. | |
| His government introduced a wide range of social benefits and raised living standards. Tensions with the church eased to some degree, although he continued efforts to curb its influence. | |
| The period also saw an upsurge in violence between supporters of the Labour and Nationalist parties. | |
| Even after stepping down as Labour leader in 1984, Mr Mintoff continued to play an influential role as a member of parliament until 1998. | |
| That year, he voted to bring down the then Labour government in response to a growing rift with its Prime Minister, Alfred Sant. | |
| Labour has been in opposition since then. |