Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld dies at 88

Donald Rumsfeld, a forceful US defence secretary who was the main architect of the Iraq war until President George W. Bush replaced him as the US found itself bogged down after three-and-a-half years of fighting, has died at age 88, his family said in a statement on Wednesday.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Donald Rumsfeld, an American statesman and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather,” the statement said.