Former US President Reagan passes away

Former US president Ronald Reagan died Saturday afternoon at the age of 93 at his home in California after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for a decade.

His eldest son, Michael Reagan, issued a statement confirming his father's death.

Reagan, whose health had deteriorated over the past few days, served as the 40th US president from 1981 to 1989. He was survived by his wife Nancy and three children.

Two of the children had been reportedly at his bedside as news broke that Reagan's health was deteriorating.

The movie-star-turned president, who suffered from the Alzheimer's disease, disclosed his disease in a letter to the nation in November 1994.

He told the nation that he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain disorder that leads to mental disorientation and physical decline.

"I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead," he said in the letter. He has been out of the public eye ever since.

Earlier reports quoted sources familiar with Reagan's health conditions as saying that the White House has been told that Reagan could die within "weeks or months."