September 9th 1976; the chief architect of the Chinese revolution, Chairman Mao Zedong, has died at the age of 82. His death - at 10 minutes past midnight - was announced by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the State Council, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the party's Military Affairs Commission.

Chairman Mao had been in poor health for several years and had declined visibly in recent months. He had not seen any foreign visitors for some time. It is not clear yet who will replace him. There is no designated heir to the leadership of China's 800 million citizens.