FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF PASSES AWAY

Jakarta, March 11 (ANTARA) - Former Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force Marshal (ret) Mohamad Saleh Basarah Suradiningrat passed away on Thursday at Jakarta's MMC Hospital.

The Indonesian Air Force's spokesman Colonel Nav Yoyok said Suradiningrat died of dengue fever he had for several days.

He passed away at 03.00 am local time after being hospitalized for several days, Yoyok said.

Suradiningrat's body was taken to the house of mourning at 6 Berlian I Street, Cilandak Barat, South Jakarta at 11.00 am.

From his house, it was brought to the 17th Air Squadron at Halim Perdana Kusumah Air Force Base for his last respects, before being buried at Kalibata's Hero Cemetery, Jakarta, at 12.30 pm, he said.

Born in the West Java town of Tasikmalaya on August 14, 1928, Suradiningrat was Air Force Chief of Staff from March 28, 1973 to June 4, 1977.

Besides his military career, he was also Indonesian ambassador to the United Kingdom and member of the Supreme Advisory Council.

For the country's boxers, his track record was also noted because he was also chairman of the Association of Amateur Boxers.