Former Czech president Havel dies

Former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel died at the age of 75 on Sunday due to longtime illness, the country's media reported.

Former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel [File photo]

Havel died while he was asleep at his house in the countryside, the Czech News Agency quoted his secretary Sabina Tancevova as saying.

Report said that  Havel had serious health problems. And he spent most of his time at his house in Hradecek, east Bohemia as he relied heavily on the breathing apparatus.

U.S. President Barack Obama expressed his sadness at the Havel's death in a statement. "Having encountered many setbacks, Havel lived with a spirit of hope, which he defined as 'the ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed,'" Obama said.

"We extend our condolences to President Havel's family and all those in the Czech Republic and around the world who remain inspired by his example," Obama said.

Havel became president of Czechoslovakia in December 1989 and served as Czech president from 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He led the Czech Republic until 2003.