Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan's 'father of democracy', dies aged 97

Nation's first popularly elected president oversaw transition from martial law to democracy

Lee Teng-hui, known as Taiwan's father of democracy" and its first popularly elected president, has died, according to a statement from his family.

Lee, who oversaw Taiwan's transition from martial law to one of the most vibrant democracies in Asia, died of septic shock and multiple organ failure at Taipei Veterans general hospital on Thursday evening. He had been in hospital for more than five months after choking while drinking milk and later contracting pneumonia. He was 97 years old.