Zambian president dies in London

Zambian President Michael Sata died in London, media reports said Wednesday.

Sata died Tuesday evening at London's King Edward VII Hospital, the private Muzi television station, the Zambia Reports, and Zambian Watchdog websites reported, according to Xinhua.

The Zambian cabinet confirmed the president's death.

The Zambian leader was taken abroad for specialised treatment Oct 19, accompanied by First Lady Christine Kaseba-Sata and some family members.

Sata's health had been a subject of debate since June this year when he disappeared from the public sphere for almost three months.

Speculation arose that he had travelled to Israel for treatment while the government said that he had gone on a working holiday.

Last month, fear gripped the southern African nation when some international media reported that he had collapsed while attending the UN General Assembly in the US.

Sata became president after winning the 2011 election.