From correspondents in Andhra Pradesh, India, 01:30 AM IST

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and former MP Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi died here Monday night, his family said. He was 76.

He was hospitalised about 10 days ago with breathing problems.

Owaisi, who dominated Hyderabad politics for four decades, is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

He breathed his last around 9 p.m. at his residence in Hyderguda. The end came a few hours after he was shifted from hospital, his son and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said.

His body will be kept at Darussalam, the MIM headquarters, Tuesday morning to enable people to pay their last respects. The burial will take place at the Dargah Hazrat Mohammed Hasan graveyard near the party office.

'Salar', as he was popularly known, represented the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency for two decades. He was first elected to parliament in 1984 and re-elected in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Owaisi began his political career in his youth and was first elected to the state legislative assembly in 1962. He continued to be a state legislator till he was elected to parliament.

As the news of his death spread, shopkeepers in the old city downed shutters and black flags were flown in mourning. Police beefed up security as a precautionary measure.

MIM has one MP and five state legislators from the old city, where Muslims are an overwhelming majority.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)