Sulu Sultan dies

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III died of illness today at the age of 75, local media reported.

Kiram's daughter Jacel Kiram told local media that her father died of organ failure at the Philippine Heart Center early this morning.

Kiram's remains were brought to his residence at Maharlika Village in Taguig City, Metro Manila. His family wishes to bury the sultan in Maimbung, Sulu within 24 hours, media quoted Jacel as saying.

Kiram's name was in newspaper headlines last February when some of his men sailed from Tawi-Tawi to Lahad Datu in Sabah to lay claim over the Malaysian-controlled territory.