Mar 11, 2008 (DVB), Sai Htee Saing, one of Burma's most famous singers, died yesterday morning aged 58 at Rangoon general hospital from a ruptured artery in his stomach.

He had been in the gastroenterology ward of the hospital for two weeks before he died at around 5.45am yesterday, his daughter Nan Yu Khaung said.

"We never thought it would come this fast," Nan Yu Khaung said.

"We were already expecting it, but we never thought it would be so soon."

Sai Htee Saing's funeral is due to be held on 13 March at Yay Way cemetery, where he will be buried.

Khin Maung Toe, another prominent Burmese singer, said Sai Htee Saing's music would always be remembered.

"This is a huge loss for the Burmese cultural scene," Khin Maung Toe said.

"Sai Htee Saing stood out strongly in his genre, his songs always sound fresh and they will never disappear from people's memories."

Actress Honey Tun said that Sai Htee Saing was a unique talent.

"There will be no one else to replace him," she said.

"He started singing so many years ago and has managed to keep his credibility to this day."

One of Sai Htee Saing's fans also expressed his sadness at Sai Htee Saing's death.

"He is about the same age as me and I have liked him since I was young," he said.

"I am very sad to hear about the death of my favourite singer."

Sai Htee Saing was an ethnic Shan born in September 1949 in Lin Khae, Shan state, to U Nanda and Daw Myat Ein.

He became famous when his song "The story of a Shan in Mandalay", written by Shan songwriter Sai Kham Lek, gained widespread popularity.

He is survived by his wife Daw Khin Than Soe and a son and two daughters.

Reporting by Htet Yazar