Communist guerilla Chin Peng dies in Thailand

Malaysia's former guerrilla fighter Chin Peng, who led a violent campaign to turn Malaysia communist several decades ago, died in exile in Thailand on Monday, according to his military liaison.

The 89-year-old, who left Malaysia about five decades ago, had been hospitalised in Bangkok for several years.

"He died this morning of cancer," said General Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, a former Thai military commander and point of contact between Chin Peng and the authorities.