Former Turkish President Demirel dies at 90

Turkish President Suleyman Demirel (L) gestures as he welcomes his Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze (R) upon his arrival at Ankara's Esenboga Airport in this October 28, 1998 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

ANKARA - Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who was twice toppled by the military during seven stints as the head of government, died early on Wednesday, according to a hospital official and Turkish media. He was 90.

Demirel, who served as prime minister seven times through the 1960s to the 1990s and was president from 1993 to 2000, died at the Guven Hospital in Ankara, where he had been undergoing treatment for a respiratory tract infection, a hospital official told Reuters.

He first came to power in general elections held five years after a 1960 coup, at the head of the Justice Party. He inherited his mostly rural power base from the former Democrat Party, which had been banned by the military.

Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid tribute to Demirel.

"Suleyman Demirel, who has contributed greatly to the development process of our country and has left deep marks in Turkey's politics is one of the most important figures of our political history," Erdogan said in a written statement.

Davutoglu said Demirel's 'unique style' will be remembered.

"He was a politician who will always be remembered by... the services he has given to our country throughout his long political career," Davutoglu said on Twitter.