Veteran US Senator Edward Kennedy, the brother of ex-President John F Kennedy, has died at the age of 77 after battling a brain tumour.

The Democratic Massachusetts senator was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in May last year.

He became a member of the Senate in 1962 to replace his brother when he resigned to become president, and was re-elected seven times.

He has been an active supporter of current President Barack Obama.

Correspondents say Senator Kennedy has been a dominant force in liberal American politics for almost half a century, especially on issues like healthcare and education.

The Kennedy family announced his death in a brief statement in the early hours of Wednesday.

“Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts),” the statement said.

“We’ve lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever.”

Edward Kennedy was the only one of four brothers to die a natural death.

His brother Joseph was killed in an air crash in World War II, and both President John F Kennedy and presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy were assassinated.

His own presidential aspirations were badly damaged when he was given a suspended sentence for leaving the scene of a fatal accident on the Massachusetts island of Chappaquiddick in 1969.

Source: BBC

Photo: Senator Kennedy was the only one of four brothers to die a natural death. Getty images.

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