KHARTOUM, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Former Sudanese President Abdel Rahman Swar Al-Dahab died Thursday at the age of 83 at Riyadh Military Hospital in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Sudanese Presidency of the Republic announced.
The presidency eulogized Swar al-Dahab in a statement, describing him as "a great leader."
Swar al-Dahab was born in El-Obeid city in western Sudan in 1935. He served as Sudanese army's Chief of Staff and Defense Minister. He also received high military certificates from UK, United States, Egypt and Jordan.
He assumed power as Sudan's president following the popular uprising against former President Gaafar Nimeiry in 1985.
Swar al-Dahab surrendered power to the elected government in 1986, and became chairman of the Islamic Da'wa (Call) Organization in 1987.
