Montserrat former minister dies

Former Montserratian chief minister John Osborne has died.



Osborne's children say he died peacefully yesterday at a US hospital.



The 74-year-old had been suffering from an undisclosed illness and was hospitalised for weeks.



First elected chief minister in 1978, John Osborne served as his country’s top elected official for 18 years.



His death follows that of Trinidad and Tobago’s former head of state Sir Ellis Clarke, who died late Thursday.



Ninety-three year old Sir Ellis was the republic’s first president.



His family said he was immobilised by a massive stroke in November and never recovered.