The former president of El Salvador, Francisco Flores, 56, has died after suffering a stroke as he waited to face trial over embezzlement charges.
Flores ruled the Central American nation from 1999 to 2004 and he had been operated on last Sunday after suffering a stroke.
"We regret the death of President Francisco Flores and we sympathise with his family at this time," his far-right Nationalist Republican Party (Arena) said in a statement.
Flores was accused of embezzling US$15 million (NZ$23 million) of aid from Taiwan that was donated after two devastating earthquakes hit the country in 2001. He had siphoned US$10 million to give to his party and kept US$5 million, according to prosecutors.
Flores maintained his innocence and was under house arrest for the charges.
"He suffered a terrible health crisis, provoked by this unjust political attack," his wife Lourdes de Flores told local media.
Reuters
