Vietnam anti-French resistance legend Do Muoi dies at 101

Hanoi: Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi, who worked against the French colonial government and became a committed communist, has died at age 101.

The government said in an announcement posted on its website that Muoi died late Monday night at the National Military Hospital 108 after battling a serious illness despite efforts by Vietnamese and foreign doctors to treat him.

"Comrade Do Muoi had gone through various working positions and made great contribution to the revolutionary cause of the Party and nation," the statement said.

State media quoted Phan Trong Kinh, Muoi's adviser, as saying that the former general secretary was admitted to the hospital nearly six months ago after having fever and breathing difficulties. Muoi had lung and kidney problems, he said adding Muoi was alert, listening to his daily news briefing but could not talk for several months. Born Nguyen Duy Cong in suburban district of Thanh Tri in Hanoi in 1917, Muoi participated in an anti-French movement in 1936 and joined the Communist Party of Indochina, the former Communist Party of Vietnam, three years later.

He was arrested by the French colonial government in 1941 and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

He escaped from prison before the uprising in 1945 under which President Ho Chi Minh declared independence from France. Muoi rose through the ranks in the party and government.