China denies former president Jiang Zemin has died

China denied on Thursday reports that former President Jiang Zemin had died.

China denied on Thursday reports that former President Jiang Zemin had died.

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"Recent reports of some overseas media organisations about Jiang Zemin's death from illness are 'pure rumour,'" the official Xinhua news agency quoted "authoritative sources" as saying.

Hong Kong's Asia Television interrupted its main newscast on Wednesday evening to announce solemnly that Jiang had died, and followed with a brief profile. It kept up the news for several hours on a ticker and then said it would air a special report on Jiang's life late in the evening.

It later cancelled the report, and withdrew the ticker after failing to get official confirmation. China's internet has also been clogged with rumours of Jiang's demise.