Ex-Indonesian leader Megawati's husband dies in Singapore

The husband of former Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri died at a Singapore hospital on Saturday, Indonesian embassy officials said.

Taufik Kiemas, 70, speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Indonesia's legislative branch, died at 7:30pm (1130 GMT) at the Singapore General Hospital, two embassy officials contacted by AFP said.

"He passed away at 7:30pm. He has been in the hospital since last Monday," an embassy spokeswoman said, adding however that she did not know the cause of death.

Indonesian media reports said he was hospitalised after complaining of exhaustion.

Taufik's wife Megawati was president of Indonesia between 2001 and 2004.

She is the daughter of former Indonesian President Sukarno who led the country to independence from Dutch colonial rule after World War II and became the country's first president.

Embassy officials said Taufik's body will be brought to the high commission overnight and will be flown back early Sunday.