NNA - The president of the European Parliament, Mr David Sassoli, died early on Tuesday (Jan 11) in a hospital in Italy, his spokesman said on Twitter.

The 65-year-old Italian had been seriously ill for more than two weeks.

"David Sassoli passed away at 1.15am on Jan 11 at the CRO in Aviano, Italy, where he was hospitalised," his spokesman Roberto Cuillo tweeted, referring to the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, or Oncology Reference Centre.

"The date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the next few hours."

The former television newsreader had been in hospital since Dec 26 because of "a serious complication due to a dysfunction of the immune system", Mr Cuillo had said on Monday, announcing the cancellation of Mr Sassoli’s official activities.  

Mr Sassoli was previously admitted with pneumonia for several weeks last September.
"The date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the next few hours."

The former television newsreader had been in hospital since Dec 26 because of "a serious complication due to a dysfunction of the immune system", Mr Cuillo had said on Monday, announcing the cancellation of Mr Sassoli’s official activities.  

Mr Sassoli was previously admitted with pneumonia for several weeks last September. ----AFP

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