Former Mexican President Echeverria, famed for role in repression, dies at 100

FILE PHOTO: Former Mexican President Luis Echeverria makes a statement in Mexico City July 9, 2002. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar/

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Former Mexican President Luis Echeverria, who took office in 1970 promising a democratic opening for the country but oversaw six of the harshest years of a so-called "dirty war" against dissidents, has died aged 100.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Twitter confirmed the death on Saturday, expressing his condolences to Echeverria's family.