KUALA LUMPUR — Former East Timorese President Francisco Guterres died on Sunday at age 71 at Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His family announced his death on the late president's official Facebook account, stating that he was in intensive care at the time of his death.

The cause of Guterres's death was not immediately disclosed. East Timor's government declared seven days of national mourning, and flags were lowered on all public buildings and the country's missions abroad.

Guterres, widely known by his nom de guerre "Lu Olo," was born on Sept. 7, 1954, in Ossu, Viqueque District, in what was then Portuguese Timor. He was a senior leader of Fretilin and served as a guerrilla commander in the resistance against Indonesia's occupation from 1975 to 1999.

Guterres served as president of the Constituent Assembly in 2001, where he oversaw the drafting of East Timor's constitution. He became the first speaker of the National Parliament after the country gained independence in 2002.

Guterres was elected president in 2017 and served one term before losing a reelection bid in 2022 to Jose Ramos-Horta. He held the office from 2017 to 2022.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged Guterres's commitment, stating, "Throughout his life, he remained committed to the freedom of his people and the building of a democratic nation." Guterres is survived by his wife, Cidalia Lopes Nobre Mouzinho Guterres, and their children. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced at a later time.