Vietnam Communist party boss dies at 80; succession in balance

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Nguyen Phu Trong, the Vietnam Communist Party (VCP) chief who ushered in an era of strong ties with the U.S., kept rival China happy, and mounted a historic crackdown on corruption in the fast-growing economy, died Friday due to "old age and serious illness," the government said on its website. He was 80.

The web post, citing information from Trong's medical team, said he died in the early afternoon on Friday "after a period of illness."