Roundup: Cambodian ruling party chief dies at age of 83

Chea Sim, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and president of the Senate, died of illness on Monday afternoon at the age of 83, a CPP spokesman confirmed.

"He died at 3:45 p.m. on Monday due to his illness," CPP's spokesman Chhim Phalvarun told Xinhua over telephone. "He was one of the top and revered leaders. His passing-away is a great loss for the nation and the Cambodian people."

Chea Sim had suffered from diabetes and other illnesses for years before his death.

According to an obituary, Chea Sim's body is being placed at his home in Phnom Penh's Chamkarmon district.

Cambodian Prime Minister and CPP's vice president Hun Sen said on April 29 that when Chea Sim passed away, he would become the president of the CPP and Say Chhum, CPP's secretary general and 1st vice president of the Senate, would become the president of the Senate.

Born in November 15, 1932 in east Cambodia's Svay Rieng province, Chea Sim joined the Khmer Issarak Movement in 1952-1953 and fought for the independence of Cambodia.

Between 1970 and 1975, Chea Sim joined the patriotic movement led by late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, then-president of the United Front for the National Salvation of Cambodia.

In the historical mission of national salvation from 1975 to 1979, he held the position of deputy president of the United Front for the National Salvation of Cambodia.

He served as the Minister of Interior between 1979 and 1981, and the President of the National Assembly between 1981 and 1993.

On October 17, 1991, the 14th CPP Central Committee's Plenum has elected him as the President of the CPP.

He was the President of the National Assembly from 1981 to 1998 and had been the President of the Senate since 1999 to his death. Endi