Vietnam's ruling party chief Nguyen dies at age of 80

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Nguyen Phu Trong, the chief of the ruling Vietnam Communist Party, died on Friday, state media reported.

Born in 1944, he was 80.

According to the party, Nguyen breathed his last at 1.38 p.m. local time (0638GMT) at the 108 Central Military Hospital in the capital Hanoi.

Nguyen was the top leader of the party for over a decade.

The news of his demise came a day after Vietnam’s President To Lam assumed duties as the party’s chief on Thursday.

The party’s charge was given to President To after it came to the fore that Nguyen was being given medical treatment.

The party has urged the people and the army to put their trust in the leadership and strengthen unity and solidarity.