Tanzania's Vice President Mr Omar Ali Juma has died of a heart attack, the country's president announced on state radio today.
Tanzanian President Mr Benjamin Mkapa said Mr Juma had died suddenly at 11.45 p.m. (20.45 GMT) last night. He declared a seven-day period of national mourning.
Mr Juma was a trusted friend and close ally of Mr Mkapa and had been his vice president since the Tanzanian leader came to power in 1995. He was seen as a possible successor to Mr Mkapa when he steps down in 2005.
"He was my chief aide, a trustworthy, hardworking and modest man," Mr Mkapa said."He has left a huge gap in the leadership of our nation."
Although the 60-year-old Juma had a history of heart problems, his death last night came as a complete surprise.
The vice president was seen in public only hours before his death, bidding farewell to Democratic Republic of Congo President Mr Joseph Kabila at Dar es Salaam's international airport, and looked in good health.