Mo Mowlam dies at 55

2005-08-19 20:03

London - British politician Mo Mowlam, whose no-nonsense negotiating as Northern Ireland secretary helped forge the province's landmark peace accord, died on Friday, a family spokesman said. She was 55.

Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to his former Cabinet minister, saying she had transformed the politics of Northern Ireland and played a key role in the revival of his Labour Party.

"Mo was surely one of the most remarkable and colorful personalities ever to come into politics. Great company, utterly irreverent, full of life and fun," Blair said in a statement released by his Downing Street office.

Mowlam, who had recently suffered balance problems after receiving radiotherapy for a brain tumor, hit her head in a fall last month, a family friend told The Associated Press, requesting that he not be identified.

She was admitted to King's College Hospital in London, but failed to regain consciousness and was transferred last week to a hospice in Canterbury, southern England, to die, the friend said. Carers followed her request that she not be kept alive artificially and withdrew life support earlier this week, the friend said.

Mowlam died at 08:10, family spokesman Brian Basham said in a statement.

Mowlam was one of Britain's most popular politicians, admired by the public for her willingness to speak frankly, her bravery in fighting the brain tumor and her role in Northern Ireland's peace process.

- AP