Former Burmese foreign minister dies in jail

Wing Aung

Win Aung, 65, died Wednesday morning from a cerebral hemorrhage,  close friends of the former minister said.

Bespeckled and fluent in English, Win Aung served as foreign minister and the civilized face for Burma's pariah military regime from 1998 to 2004.

In 2004, he was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to seven years in jail for selling cars imported tax-free for ministry personnel.

A former member of the Military Intelligence, Win Aung was a close associate of prime minister General Khin Nyunt, who fell from grace in November 2004, resulting in a purge of his proteges that included the former foreign minister.