Chinese government media confirms Zhao's death

BEIJING, Jan 17 (AFP) - China's state-controlled media confirmed the death Monday of former leader Zhao Ziyang.
"Comrade Zhao Ziyang died of illness in a Beijing hospital Monday. He was 85," a short dispatch from Xinhua news agency said.
"Comrade Zhao had long suffered from multiple diseases affecting his respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and had been hospitalized for medical treatment for several times.
"His conditions worsened recently, and he passed away Monday after failing to respond to all emergency treatment."

01/17/2005 01:24 GMT - AFP