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Thais mourn revered king's sister | Thais mourn revered king's sister |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The elder sister of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has died of abdominal cancer at the age of 84. | The elder sister of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has died of abdominal cancer at the age of 84. |
Princess Galyani Vadhana died early on Wednesday morning in the Bangkok hospital where she had been receiving treatment since June last year. | Princess Galyani Vadhana died early on Wednesday morning in the Bangkok hospital where she had been receiving treatment since June last year. |
An academic specialising in French literature, the princess was involved in health, education and arts projects. | An academic specialising in French literature, the princess was involved in health, education and arts projects. |
Her funeral will be held at the Grand Palace and a 100-day mourning period has been declared. | Her funeral will be held at the Grand Palace and a 100-day mourning period has been declared. |
Hundreds of Thais assembled at the hospital after the announcement, many of them wearing black. | |
"This is a great loss for me and the country," mourner Banchong Rodgan told Reuters news agency. | |
Uncertainty | |
Mourners assembled outside the hospital where the princess died | |
Local media had provided regular updates as the princess' condition worsened, and King Bhumibol had visited his sister on an almost daily basis. | |
In October, the 80-year-old monarch was admitted to the same hospital as his sister for three weeks after suffering from inadequate blood flow to the brain. | |
This triggered acute public concern - the much-loved king is viewed as a key source of national unity amid ongoing political uncertainty. | |
Princess Galyani's death brought a temporary halt to negotiations between political parties in the wake of last month's general election - the first since the military coup in September 2006. | |
The People Power Party, which backs ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, emerged well ahead of its main rival, the Democrat Party, in the 23 December polls. | |
But it fell short of the 240 seats need for a majority and is currently in the process of forming a coalition with smaller parties. | |
Announcements are expected in the next few days. |
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