Fijian political legend Ratu Mara dies

12.30pm

Fiji's founding prime minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara died on Sunday night.

The 83-year-old was the Pacific nation's prime minister for 22 years after it gained independence from Britain in 1970 and was serving president until the George Speight-led coup in 2000.

During the coup Ratu Mara was removed from power by the military under martial law and sent to his home Lau Islands.

He is said to have died in a private Suva hospital, having been treated for a stroke in New Zealand three years ago.