LIMA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia died on Wednesday in a hospital in Lima, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra confirmed on Twitter.

Vizcarra said that he was "consternated" by Garcia's death, and sent his condolences to his family and loved ones.

Garcia, 69, shot himself in the head on Wednesday to avoid a preliminary arrest ordered by the justice authorities for his alleged links to the corruption scandal of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, his lawyer confirmed earlier to local media.

Peru's Health Minister Zulema Tomas Gonzales said previously that the Peruvian politician was hospitalized in an intensive care unit and his state of health was critical.

The attempted suicide occurred when police officers tried to apprehend him to complete a preliminary detention of 10 days in his house, where he locked himself in a room and shot himself.

Garcia served as president of Peru from 1985 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2011. Enditem

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