Former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani dies in Germany

The Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani died on Tuesday in Germany, a member of the party's leadership confirmed.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) - The Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani died at the age of 83 on Tuesday in Germany, a member of the party's leadership confirmed.

Talabani on Sep. 11 flew to Germany to conduct some medical tests for his health condition as he suffered a stroke in 2012.

Talabani, who is Secretary-General of PUK, was the sixth President of Iraq since the country was established in 1920. He served in office from 2005 until 2014.

The Kurdish leader has stayed out of politics since late 2012, after he suffered a stroke, and traveled to Germany to receive medical treatment.

After 18 months of treatment abroad, Talabani returned to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on July 19, 2014.

The PUK is the third-largest party in the Kurdistan Region with 18 seats in Parliament out of 111. The party has been facing internal political turmoil and disunity since Talabani's health condition deteriorated.