Vietnam's most powerful Communist Party leader, Trong, dies

Trong oversaw the strengthening of the country's relationship with several international powers during his terms in office. - AP

HANOI: Nguyen Phu Trong,Vietnam's most powerful contemporary leader and architect of the country's largest anti-corruption campaign, died Friday (July 19) at the age of 80, state media said.

During Trong's 13 years as general secretary of the Communist Party, thousands of people were arrested on corruption charges and a crackdown on dissidents and activists intensified in the one-party state.