Vietnam leader dead at 61

– Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang, a former police chief known as a tough politician, died yesterday at 61 after a serious illness.

His death is not likely to dramatically alter politics in a country where the communist state oversees almost every facet of society.

Coverage on state media was sombre yesterday, with a Vietnam Television anchor dressed in all black as she announced the news of the leader’s death. –

Hanoi