Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 17, 2003

Jeddah, Aug. 16: Idi Amin, whose eight years as President of Uganda was a period of terror, died today, a hospital official said.

Amin was 80, Ugandan officials said, though other sources had him born in 1925, according to media reports.

One-time heavyweight boxing champ and soldier in the British colonial army, Amin seized power on January 25, 1971, overthrowing President Milton Obote while Obote was abroad, sources added.

Amin, whose eight years of brutal regime in the seventies witnessed killing of thousands of people and forcing out of 80,000 Asians, mostly Indians, died in a hospital in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia today.

Known for his bizarre and murderous rule, Amin, believed to be 78, was forced from power in Uganda in 1979 by Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exiles following one of the bloodiest regimes in African history.

Amin fled to Libya, then Iraq before finally settling in Saudi Arabia where he was granted asylum on the condition that he would stay out of politics.

The former dictator had been in coma at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah since July 18.

His condition deteriorated yesterday and he died this morning. He was reportedly suffering from kidney failure.

Amin was especially the nemesis of the rich and flourishing Asians.

In 1972, he expelled virtually the entire Asian population, including about 50,000 Indians, saying he had been ordered by god to do so in a dream.

He also usurped the business and wealth of the Indians, many of whom were traders, leading to the country's economic collapse.

In the mayhem that marked his rule, human rights group say some 400,000 Ugandans were killed.

He reportedly fed the body of his enemies to crocodiles and kept their skulls as trophies. He was also accused of cannibalism.