U.S. Senator Edward M Kennedy dies at 77

U.S. Senator. Edward M. Kennedy who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008 died Wednesday. He was 77 years old.

U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) reacts after President Barack Obama signed H.R. 1388, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, at the SEED Public Charter School in Washington, April 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters, File Photo)

Kennedy became a member of the Senate in 1962 to replace his brother when he resigned to become president, and was re-elected seven times.

He has been an active supporter of current President Barack Obama. The Kennedy family announced his death in a brief statement in the early hours of Wednesday.

Edward Kennedy was the only one of four brothers to die a natural death. His brother Joseph was killed in an air crash in World War II, and both President John F Kennedy and presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy were assassinated.

As the news breaks there have already been tributes made to the former senator. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan says she is “terribly saddened; Ronnie (Ronald Reagan) and Ted could always find common ground and they had great respect.”

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet