ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Turkey's former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who convinced the European Union to accept his country's membership application, died at age 81 in Ankara.
Ecevit had been in intensive care at Ankara's military hospital since suffering a stroke on May 18, reports Hurriyet.
The news of the death of Bulent Ecevit, who held the post of prime minister five times, drew thousands of mourners to the hospital, the report said.
Top leaders including President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as top military commander planned to visit Ecevit's home to offer their condolences.
Zeki Sezer, who heads Ecevit's Democratic Left Party, told reporters that Ecevit's wife Rahsan Ecevit, was resting after hearing the news. He said Bulent Ecevit would be buried Tuesday or Wednesday.
Ecevit also was known for his literary skills which included several books of poetry.
In an official statement, Sezer said, "Our grief is huge. We have lost Ecevit, a great statesman and our leader, who I have been very proud to work with. However, I do believe that his ideas will continue guiding us forever."
Erdogan said, "Turkish political life has lost a great personality."
