Slovenia independence leader dies

Slovenia's former President Janez Drnovsek, who helped lead his country to independence and EU membership, has died at the age of 57, his office says.

Mr Drnovsek was prime minister from 1992 until 2002, when he was elected president. He did not run for a second term in December due to ill health.

No cause of death was given, but he had a cancerous kidney removed in 1999. The disease later spread to his lungs.

The illness prompted him to promote a healthy lifestyle and vegetarian diet.

In recent years, Mr Drnovsek wrote three books on spirituality which became best-sellers in Slovenia and were translated into several languages.