Umberto Bossi, firebrand founder of Italy's Northern League party, dies at 84

Italy's Northern League former leader Umberto Bossi addresses the audience during the Northern League rally in Bergamo April 10, 2012. Bossi, the firebrand leader of Italy's opposition Northern League party, resigned on Thursday after allegations that taxpayers' money was used to pay for renovations at his villa and holidays for his children. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

ROME, March 19 (Reuters) - Umberto Bossi, a gravel-voiced populist leader ⁠who pushed for independence for northern Italy and shook up national politics, died on Thursday at a hospital in Varese, in the north of the country, ⁠family and party sources told Reuters.

He was 84 years old. The cause was not immediately known.