Aug 4, 2008 (DVB), Min Thein Kha, a well-known writer, astrologer and former political prisoner, died at a private clinic in Rangoon on Friday morning at the age of 71 from diabetes, hypertension and heart problems.

Min Kyaw Khine, a follower of Min Thein Kha, said he had been sent home from hospital last month but suffered a relapse.

"He was admitted to hospital on 4 July and the doctors decided to amputate his leg due to the diabetes he was suffering," Min Kyaw Khine said.

"But somehow he got better without the operation and was released from hospital on 15 July," he went on.

"But then he got very sick again and was admitted to hospital again on 31 July and passed away the next morning, 1 August."

Min Thein Kha is survived by his wife and one son. His funeral will be held on 5 August at Yayway cemetery outside Rangoon.

Min Thein Kha came on to the literary scene with his well-known novel Manusari and went on to have many short and long stories published in magazines and wrote over 100 books, including novels and books on astrology.

He was also the creator of the popular suspense novel character Hnin Maung and adventurer Sanay [Saturday] Maung Maung.

Min Thein Kha was recently awarded a doctor degree by Calcutta university in India for his "Historical Thesis on 122 Ancient Burmese Kings" but had not been able to receive it, according to Zin Yawni, who lived with him for more than 15 years.

Min Thein Kha was also popular with well-known faces in the Burmese celebrity community such as Kyaw Thu for using his astrological knowledge to help them select propitious names to gain fame.

Min Thein Kha was a former member of the Burmese Communist Party (Red Wing) and was imprisoned for the first time from 1965 until 1970.

He later became involved in the 8888 national uprising and gave public speeches, leading to a sentence of life imprisonment in 1989, though he was released in 1992.

He had been in a wheelchair for the past one and a half years due to his deteriorating health.

Reporting by Aye Nai