Close ally of Myanmar's Suu Kyi dies of leukaemia: Source

A close ally of detained Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi died of leukaemia on Monday, a party source told AFP, days after being released from junta custody on health grounds.

Zaw Myint Maung, 72, was a stalwart of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party that has long opposed the military during its decades of rule.

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He was arrested following the military's latest coup in 2021 and jailed for corruption. He was recently released on health grounds.

"We got confirmation of his death. It's a big loss for us as he was one of our NLD vice-chairmen," a senior party source told AFP, requesting anonymity to speak to the media.

The source said Zaw Myint Maung had died of leukaemia.

"Although we were prepared we might lose him one day, we are sorry for losing him in this difficult situation. We have to move forward for democracy with the leaders we have."

Zaw Myint Maung died in Mandalay's general hospital after being released from custody by the junta.

The former chief minister of Mandalay region was detained shortly after the 2021 coup that upended a 10-year experiment with democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.

The junta's subsequent crackdown on dissent has sparked armed uprisings across the country which the junta is struggling to crush.

Almost three million people have been forced from their homes by the conflict, according to the United Nations.

Last month Italian media reported that Pope Francis has offered refuge on Vatican territory to Suu Kyi, who led the government ousted by the military in 2021.