Kashmir chief minister dies

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, chief minister of India's restive Kashmir region and one of the country's best-known Muslim politicians, died yesterday, an official said.

The 79-year-old, whose party is in a controversial coalition with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party in the Himalayan region, is likely to be succeeded as chief minister by his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti.

Sayeed died in hospital in New Delhi after being admitted on December 24 suffering from a respiratory illness, a hospital official told AFP.He will be given a state funeral in Kashmir, with Modi expected to attend.

Sayeed was appointed India's first Muslim home minister in 1989.

"Mufti Sahab's demise leaves a huge void in the nation & in J&K, where his exemplary leadership had a major impact on people's lives," Modi tweeted.

The PDP's main support base is among Muslims in the Kashmir Valley, the epicentre of the separatist insurgency that broke out in 1989, although the party stops short of calling for independence for the restive Himalayan region.

Analysts said the death of the veteran leader, who also served as chief minister in Kashmir between 2002 and 2005, was unlikely to trigger major change.

His party won the 2002 election in Kashmir on a promise to bring a "healing touch" to the war-ravaged region, and Sayeed has won praise for his efforts to bring about reconciliation.

The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.