Former French President Jacques Chirac has died aged 86.
"He passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his loved ones," his son-in-law Frederic Salat-Baroux told the media.
The lower house of the French parliament observed a minute's silence in his memory.
President Emmanuel Macron cancelled a public engagement and is set to make a televised address later Thursday.
Chirac, who served as president from 1995 to 2007, was dogged by allegations of corruption during his later days.
In the last years of his life, he suffered from neurological problems and was rarely seen in public.
Iran accuses US of ground assault plans as Pakistan hosts regional talks
Netanyahu orders expansion of security buffer zone in southern Lebanon
Ten Kuwaiti troops injured in Iranian missile attack
Oman says no party has claimed responsibility for attacks on its territory
Anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies pop up in thousands of US cities
Six killed after Israeli strikes hit two Gaza police checkpoints, medics say
Bahrain's aluminum producer confirms Iranian attack on facilities
Kuwait International Airport suffers 'significant damage' after drone attacks
