Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel has died at the age of 90 due to respiratory tract infection. Demirel served as prime minister for seven times through the 1960s to the 1990s and was president from 1993 to 2000.

Demirel’s coffin was placed in front of the parliament building where dignitaries including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid their respects.

About Suleyman Demirel

• Demirel was born on Nov 1, 1924 in the village of Islamkoy.
• He trained as an engineer and headed a dam-building program.
• He launched his political career after the 1960 military coup that deposed the government of Adnan Menderes.
• At the age of 40 Demirel was a surprise choice as leader of the newly formed Justice Party.
• His populist style — Demirel was known as “Sulu the shepherd” because of his village background.
• He was deposed in a second military coup in 1980 and banned from politics for much of the decade
• He returned as prime minister in 1991.
• He became president in 1993 on the death of Turgut Ozal.