Former Vietnamese PM dies<\/p>\n
HANOI (Agencies): Former Vietnamese prime minister Pham Van
\nDong, one of the giants of the country's independence struggle,
\nhas died aged 94 in Hanoi, the communist party announced on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Dong, one of the architects of Vietnam's communist revolution,
\ndied Last Saturday, a day before the 25th anniversary of the
\ncommunists' biggest victory, Vietnamese officials said.<\/p>\n
Dong, who combined personal charm with political toughness in
\nserving as prime minister through three decades of war and
\npainful reunification, had been hospitalized on life support for
\nmonths before his death on Saturday, said the officials, speaking
\non traditional custom of anonymity.<\/p>\n
With no newspapers Monday because of the May Day holiday,
\nDong's death was to be announced on Tuesday. A state funeral was
\nplanned for Friday.<\/p>\n
The cause of his death was not immediately known but his
\nhealth had deteriorated badly over the last few months, prompting
\nseveral stays in hospital, the party spokesman said.<\/p>\n
News of his death was kept from the Vietnamese public over the
\nweekend and on Monday because of the nationwide celebrations to
\ncommemorate the end of the Vietnam War and worldwide May Day
\ncelebrations on Monday.<\/p>\n
Dong headed the Vietnamese delegation at the 1954 Geneva
\nconference which resulted in France's withdrawal from its former
\ncolonial possession and the partition of the country.<\/p>\n
The same year he was named prime minister of North Vietnam, a
\npost he held for 33 years through the reunification of the
\ncountry following the fall of the pro-America regime in the
\nsouth, until 1987.<\/p>\n
The \"favorite nephew\" of \"Uncle Ho\" Chi Minh then retired from
\npublic life but retained a role as special advisor to the
\ncommunist party's central committee until December 1997.<\/p>\n
Despite his failing health and blindness, he continued to
\nexercise huge influence over the Vietnamese regime.<\/p>",
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