NICOSIA (Xinhua) -- Cyprus' former president Tassos Papadopoulos, who led the Mediterranean island into the European Union and eurozone, died of lung cancer on Friday at the age of 74.

""Today, Cyprus lost a patriot, a tireless fighter who struggled all his life for freedom and democracy. He served Cyprus with consistency, devotion and commitment to principles and values,"" said Papadopoulos' son Constantinos Giorkatzis while reading out a statement on behalf of the family.
The Cypriot government has announced a three-day official mourning for Papadopoulos. Flags at all public buildings and schools will fly at half mast till Monday, when Papadopoulos will be laid to rest in a state funeral, said government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou after an extraordinary cabinet meeting.
""We honor his contribution to his country Cyprus from various posts he has served, as a member of parliament, President of the House of Representatives, Minister, negotiator and President of the Republic,"" said a cabinet statement.
Papadopoulos was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Nov. 22. He suffered from lower back pain and acute respiratory failure, and was later diagnosed with small cell lung cancer.
Born in Nicosia in January 1934, Papadopoulos studied law in London and later came back to Cyprus to join the struggle for independence against British colonial rule in the 1950s.
During the transitional period for the independence of Cyprus, Papadopoulos was one of the four Greek Cypriot representatives who took part in the drafting of the Constitution for the new Republic of Cyprus.
After serving for years as a cabinet minister, Greek Cypriot negotiator for reunification talks and parliament speaker, he was elected president of the republic in February 2003 for a five-year term, during which Cyprus became a full member of the European Union and entered the eurozone.