Jawaharlal Nehru (left) was a confidant of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi

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Jawaharlal Nehru, founder of modern India and its current prime minister, has died suddenly at the age of 74.

He was taken ill in the early hours of this morning at his house in New Delhi. He had returned from holiday at a hill station near the capital the previous evening, apparently in reasonable health.

It is believed he suffered a heart attack, and although specialists fought to save him for much of the day, he passed away early this afternoon with his daughter, Indira Gandhi, by his side.

News of his death was broken to the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, at 1400 local time (2030 GMT), by cabinet minister C Subramaniam.

In a broken voice, he told colleagues, "The prime minister is no more. The light is out."

People's tribute

Politicians openly wept as party leaders paid tribute to the man who has led India since independence from Britain 17 years ago.

The news spread quickly through the streets, and thousands of ordinary Indians began to converge on Mr Nehru's mansion in New Delhi.

Within two hours of the announcement, tens of thousands of people had gathered, and truckloads of police took up positions outside the grounds to control the rapidly growing crowd.

Mr Nehru's body was moved from his first-floor bedroom down to amakeshiftbierin front of the house.

Then began a long procession which lasted through the rest of the evening and into the night, as nearly 250,000 men, women and children filed past to pay their respects.

Battle for succession

The Home Minister, Gulzarilal Nanda, was sworn in as interim prime minister at midnight, although it is being emphasised that the appointment is temporary.

Pandit Nehru had not indicated who he would prefer to succeed him.

When the subject was raised just five days ago at a news conference, he said that although he had given some thought to the suggestion that he should retire, "my lifetime is not ending so very soon."

The man thought most likely to succeed him is Lal Bahadur Shastri, a Minister without Portfolio in Mr Nehru's cabinet with a reputation for moderation. He was a close political confidant of Mr Nehru.

Other possible candidates are Mr Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, and the former finance minister, Morarji Desai.

Kenyatta preached a peaceful transition from Kenya's colonial past

Thousands of Kenyans ran through the rain-drenched streets of Nairobi tonight cheering at news of the results.

"Let there be forgiveness." Jomo Kenyatta said.

Latest figures show KANU has a majority in the House of Representatives - with 58 seats - over Ronald Ngala's Kenya African Democratic Union which has 28 seats. The only white candidate, Edward Hawkins, has lost his deposit.

In an address to the nation, Mr Kenyatta, aged 73 and known by his fellow Kikuyu as "Burning Spear", called for tribal and racial differences to be buried in favour of national unity under "the principles of democratic African socialism".

He said although his government aimed to free itself from British colonialism, it would not try to avenge past injustices.

"We are not to look to the past - racial bitterness, the denial of fundamental rights, the suppression of our culture... Let there be forgiveness," he said.

Tomorrow, he will be summoned by the British Governor, Malcolm MacDonald, to form a government in Government House.

"Leader to darkness and death"

It was here just three years ago that Mr Kenyatta was described by former governor Sir Patrick Renison as "the African leader to darkness and death".

Ten years ago, Mr Kenyatta, was jailed and later sent into internal exile by the British for his alleged involvement in the Mau Mau movement, a secret society of the Kikuyu tribe bent on achieving independence from Britain.

More than 14,000 Africans and Asians and 95 whites died between 1952 and 1957 during the Mau Mau rebellion.

The pressure of other African states for independence led to Mr Kenyatta's release in 1961 after which he discussed a new constitution for Kenya with the British.

makeshift:suitable as a temporary or expedient substitute（权宜的，暂时使用的）

bier:棺材