``Comrade Zhao had long suffered from multiple diseases affecting his respiratory and cardiovascular systems and has been hospitalized for medical treatment for several times,'' Xinhua reported on Monday.

``His condition worsened recently and he passed away after failing to respond to all emergency treatment.''

The official People's Daily Online, as well as popular mainland news websites, carried the same short report, but comments were barred from website chatrooms.

The subdued reporting was in stark contrast with reports in Hong Kong, Taiwanese and overseas Chinese media, which published reactions to Zhao's death from overseas politicians and dissidents.

It is believed mainland officials are downplaying Zhao's death out of fear the once-popular leader's demise could spark protests.

China Central Television did not mention the death and, according to a Taiwanese website report, a CNN broadcast in China was intercepted for about 15 minutes at 10am, possibly due to a special report on Zhao.

A CNN spokeswoman confirmed the interception, but said the reasons were being investigated.

Meanwhile, reactions to Zhao's death ran prominently in the non-mainland media.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council will ``closely follow'' potential political developments on the mainland following Zhao's death, council minister Joseph Wu said. Taiwan cabinet spokesman Chen Chi-mai also urged Beijing to ``re-examine history'' and push for political reforms.

Writing on the website, Chinesenewsnet.com, former Xinhua Hong Kong bureau director and Communist Party Central Committee member Xu Jiatun, who fled to the United States after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, called Zhao ``one of the founding fathers of China's reform. The Chinese people, as well as history, will never forget his contributions.''

Tiananmen Square protest leader Wang Dan said: ``It's an ironic historical tragedy that Zhao was imprisoned for 15 years by the Communist Party, the party he spent his life serving.''

Other dissidents called for a public funeral for Zhao. ``The Chinese government, at the very least, should have an open and public funeral for Zhao Ziyang,'' said Jiang Peikun, whose 17-year-old son was gunned down in the streets of Beijing during the 1989 protest.

sylvia.hui@globalchina.com