DAR ES SALAAM: Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, hailed as a peacemaker in East Africa, has died aged 81 in a Dar es Salaam hospital, the government announced Friday. He was the country's third president after independence from Britain in 1962 and ruled for two terms from 1995 to 2005.

"I'm saddened by the death of the third president of Tanzania and that is a big loss for us as a country. Let's pray for him and more information will follow later," President John Magufuli said in a short televised speech. He did not reveal the cause of death.