Havel, Czech Playwright Who Led Revolution, Dies in Sleep
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Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who served time in Czechoslovakia’s communist prisons before leading a revolution that ushered democracy into central Europe and hoisted him into the Czech presidency, has died. He was 75.
Havel, who suffered a long illness, passed away in his sleep at his weekend cottage in Hradecek, northern Czech Republic, said former spokesman Ladislav Spacek by phone in Prague today. Leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, EU Commission President Jose Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered tributes.