(MENAFN- QNA) Zambian President Michael Sata has died at the age of 77 after receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, the government says.
President Sata, who was being treated in the UK, died in London's King Edward VII hospital on Tuesday night.
Media said that he died after "a sudden onset [of] heightened heart rate", according to the (BBC).
It is not immediately clear who will succeed the president. The issue may be decided by the Zambian cabinet which meets on Wednesday.
His death comes just days after Zambia celebrated the 50th anniversary of independence from the UK.
Earlier this month reports in Zambia said that President Sata had gone abroad for a medical check-up amid persistent speculation that he was seriously ill.
After he left the country, Defence Minister Edgar Lungu was named as acting president.
Sata has rarely been seen in public since returning from the UN General Assembly last month, where he failed to make a scheduled speech.
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