Pakistan's ex president Pervez Musharraf is dead

Perves Musharraf, Pakistan's former president, has died at the age of 79 after a protracted illness.

In the statement confirming the death, the Pakistani military said it expressed its "heartfelt condolences" and added: "May Allah bless the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family."

Musharraf was a military officer, seized power in a coup 1999 and was later civilian president between 2001 and 2008. Mr Musharraf survived numerous assassination attempts and found himself on the front line of the struggle between militant Islamists and the West.

In 2008, he suffered defeat in the polls and left the country six months later for Dubai in 2016 to seek medical treatment and been living in exile in the country ever since.

The current Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his condolences, as did the country's military leaders.

"I offer my condolences to the family of General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf. May the departed soul rest in peace," He tweeted.