Tunis - Former Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, who led the country's fight for independence from France, died on Thursday aged 97, an official statement said.
"The leader Habib Bourguiba, former president of the republic, died this morning at 9.50 local time (0850 GMT) at his residency at Monastir," the spokesman of the presidency said in a statement.
President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali declared seven days of national mourning starting on Thursday, he added.
Bourguiba's body was transported to the headquarters of the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally in Tunis for a last homage before a funeral to be held at the Bourguiba family's memorial in Monastir, the spokesman said. No date for the funeral was announced.
After dominating the North African state for over three decades, Bourguiba finally lost power in November 1987 when then Prime Minister Ben Ali declared him unfit to continue ruling due to senility.
Shorn of power, he lived as a recluse in a guarded state residence in his native city of Monastir some 150 km south of Tunis. He was authorised to receive only members of his family and, from time to time, some Tunisian or foreign friends.
Last month, he spent eight days at the Tunis Military Hospital where he was treated for acute inflammation of the respiratory system. - Reuters