zhao ziyang dies

The former leader of the Communist Party of China, Zhao Ziyang, died after a series of strokes at 2301 GMT Sunday. Zhao had been under house arrest since 1989, when he opposed the use of military force against the protesters in Tiananmen Square. The photo on the right shows him tearfully appealing for the demonstrators to leave.

The Tiananmen Square protests were set off by the death of another pro-reform politician, Hu Yaobang. Security has been tightened at the Square in case of new reformist demonstrations.

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