Zhang Chunqiao, member of the "Gang of Four" during the "Cultural Revolution" period (1966-76), died of cancer on April 21 at the age of 88.

Zhang, one of the "Lin Biao and Jiang Qing counter-revolutionary clique," was handed the death penalty with a two-year suspension by a special tribunal of the Supreme People's Court in January 1981.

His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment with his political rights deprived for life in January, 1983, and was commuted again to 18 years in prison with political rights deprived for 10 years.

Since January 1998, Zhang had been on medical parole.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2005)