MJTimes: President Abdurrahman Wahid has died at age 69

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A hospital nurse says former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has died. He was 69.

Chief nurse Buwahyuat at the Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta told The Associated Press on Wednesday Wahid had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. Buwahyuat like many Indonesians uses one name.

"Gusdur has passed away," she said, referring to Wahid's popular nickname.

The exact cause of death was not immediately released. The former president had suffered from several medical problems in recent years including kidney trouble.

Wahid ruled the country briefly in tumultuous years after the end of the 32-year Suharto dictatorship in 1998. He is known as a champion of democracy and moderate Islam. (The Associated Press, JAKARTA, Indonesia - Published on December 30th, 2009)