Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has died after suffering a stroke earlier this week.
Mr Mwanawasa was rushed to a hospital in Egypt on Sunday just before an African Union Summit and was transferred to intensive care in a Paris hospital on Tuesday.
The Zambian leader was chairman of the Southern African Development Community and had been a vocal critic of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
He had been mediating between Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to end the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. ITN
Mr Mwanawasa, along with other Western donors had extended billions of dollars in debt relief to the International Monetary Fund after his crackdown on government spending and launch of an anti-graft drive.
He suffered a mild stroke in 2006 but said before being re-elected that year that he was fit to stand for office. ITN