Former Turkish PM Mesut Yılmaz dies aged 72

Turkish politician Mesut Yılmaz, who served three times as a prime minister in 1990s, died on Friday at the age of 72 in Istanbul, according to reports.

Florence Nightingale Hospital's chief physician Dr. Ozgur Samilgil announced the demise of Yilmaz, who was suffering from lung cancer for the past years. On May 5, Yilmaz underwent a brain surgery with doctors saying his health status was stable.

Yilmaz, a former chairman of Anavatan (Motherland) Party, appointed as prime minister three times between 1991 and 1999, serving as premier for a period of two years in total.

Born on Nov. 6, 1947, the former prime minister was married with two children, one of whom died in 2017.