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Former German FM Guido Westerwelle dies of leukemia

Xinhua, March 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle died at the age of 54 of leukemia at the Cologne University Hospital, the Westerwelle Foundation here announced on Friday.

"We fought. We had the goal in mind. We are grateful for an incredibly great time together. The love remains," Guido Westerwelle and his partner Michael Mronz were cited as having said on the foundation's website.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of a "very sad day" for her, saying his death was hard to accept, while German President Joachim Gauck called him a "passionate political man" who "always tackled with great dedication" his various tasks.

The German foreign ministry flew flags at half-mast on Friday to honor the former foreign minister.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Berlin Westerwelle's death leaves behind "deep grief and sorrow."

As one of the best-known German politicians in recent years, Westerwelle became Germany's foreign minister in 2009. He was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2014. Endit