AN influential adviser to the Thai king, General Prem Tinsulanonda, died today aged 98 at a Bangkok hospital, Reuters reports, citing an unnamed palace official.

Prem, who was also prime minister from 1980 to 1988, had served King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his late father King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a chairman of the Privy Council. He was also a former army chief.

The cause of his death has not yet been made public.

Prem played an important role in organizing the coronation of the King Maha Vajiralongkorn earlier this month, and was briefly the country’s regent after King Bhumibol died in 2016. – May 26, 2019.