Former Italian President Ciampi dies aged 95

Former Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has died at the age of 95.

Born in Livorno in 1920, Ciampi served as President between 1999 and 2006. A widely respected and popular man, Ciampi is best remembered for his intelligence and impartiality. Prior to a visit to Malta in 2005, Ciampi had suggested that Malta make Italian its third official language.

Ciampi was the first non-parliamentarian prime minister of Italy in more than 100 years after being appointed at the helm of a technocrat government between 1993 and 1994.

Previously he served for 14 years as the governor of the Bank of Italy.

As treasury minister from 1996 to May 1999 in the governments of centre-left prime ministers Romano Prodi and Massimo D'Alema, he was credited with adopting the euro currency.

"The government embraces Signora Franca," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tweeted, referring to Ciampi's wife. "A thought of gratefulness goes to a man of the institutions, who served Italy with passion".

Ciampi died in Rome's Pio XI clinic, where he had been for several days after a deterioration in his health conditions, his doctor Andrea Platania said on Friday.  

Ciampi, a life Senator, would have turned 96 in December.

Domenico Marchetta, the head of the ex president's office in the Senate, said the funeral will take place in Rome.