Former Burundian President Colonel Jean Baptiste Bagaza dies

Former Burundian President Colonel Jean Baptiste Bagaza who ruled Burundi from 1976 to 1987 died Wednesday morning in a Belgian hospital in Brussels, the Burundian government has confirmed.

"The Burundian government received the bad news of the death of Bagaza in a hospital in Belgium with a lot of emotions," Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said in a statement.

"Burundi has lost a prominent figure that marked the country's life. He was a hard working man during his rule as the president of Burundi from 1976 to 1987. He highly contributed to the country's economic and social development. Burundian citizens will always remember that," said Nzobonariba in the statement.

"A three-day national mourning period has been decided in memory of the late Bagaza and flags will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period," said Nzobonariba.

Colonel Jean Baptiste Bagaza, who died at the age of 69, was from the Tutsi minority group and was born in the southern province of Bururi.

He succeeded General Michel Micombero, another Tutsi from the Burundian army and also from Bururi province, who abolished the king's rule in 1966. Endit