Zambian President Mwanawasa dies

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa died on the morning of 19 August 2008 in a French hospital. Mwanawasa had suffered a mild stroke in June and underwent emergency surgery on 18 August following a worsening of his condition. Vice President Rupiah Banda, who has been the interim head of state since Mwanawasa's stroke, will take the post of acting president until a new election is held. A seven-day national mourning period has been called.