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Argentina's former President Nestor Kirchner has died, after reportedly suffering a heart attack.
Mr Kirchner, 60, who had been operated on in September for heart problems, died in the southern Argentine city of El Calafate, local media reported.
His wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, is the current president of the country.
Mr Kirchner served as president from 2003 to 2007, and was being tipped to stand for election again in 2011.
He entered office after Argentina had seen a series of presidents come and go during a financial crisis 2001.
The couple had faced some criticism within Argentina for appearing to get around presidential term limits by stepping aside for each other.
Health issues
Mr Kirchner died with his wife by his side after being admitted to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning, reports said.
He had been been dogged by ill health since leaving office in 2007 and had undergone two major operations in 2010 alone.
In February Mr Kirchner had surgery to remove a blockage in his carotid artery, which carried blood from the heart to the brain.
He had emergency angioplasty in September, when he complained of numbness in his legs and routine tests revealed a blocked coronary artery.
Since leaving office Mr Kirchner continued to remain politically active despite his health problems.
He had remained a member of the Argentine congress and secretary general of the South American regional grouping, Unasur.
Mr Kirchner, 60, who had been operated on in September for heart problems, died in the southern Argentine city of El Calafate, local media reported.
His wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, is the current president of the country.
Mr Kirchner served as president from 2003 to 2007, and was being tipped to stand for election again in 2011.
He entered office after Argentina had seen a series of presidents come and go during a financial crisis 2001.
The couple had faced some criticism within Argentina for appearing to get around presidential term limits by stepping aside for each other.
Health issues
Mr Kirchner died with his wife by his side after being admitted to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning, reports said.
He had been been dogged by ill health since leaving office in 2007 and had undergone two major operations in 2010 alone.
In February Mr Kirchner had surgery to remove a blockage in his carotid artery, which carried blood from the heart to the brain.
He had emergency angioplasty in September, when he complained of numbness in his legs and routine tests revealed a blocked coronary artery.
Since leaving office Mr Kirchner continued to remain politically active despite his health problems.
He had remained a member of the Argentine congress and secretary general of the South American regional grouping, Unasur.
