WHO chief dies after emergency operation

SEOUL: Lee Jong-Wook, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), died on Monday after undergoing emergency brain surgery, the South Korean foreign ministry said.

"Lee died after undergoing an operation in Geneva," said ministry spokeswoman Choi Soung-Ah.

Lee, 61, was rushed to the hospital on Saturday an underwent an emergency operation yesterday to remove a blood clot in the brain. He died at 1130 IST (8:00 am Seoul time), Yonhap news agency said.

Lee, who was elected to lead the UN health agency in 2003 for a five year term, is survived by his wife Reiko Karabuki and a son.

Lee's death came as the WHO prepared to open its annual assembly on Monday, involving 100 health ministers from around the world.

Born in Seoul, Lee received a medical degree from Seoul National University and a master's degree in public health from the University of Hawaii.

He worked for 19 years at the WHO before becoming director general.