A Zambian spokesman says Frederick Chiluba, the country's first democratically elected president, died at his home Saturday.

He was 68. His spokesman says he had been suffering from heart and kidney problems.

Mr. Chiluba led Zambia from 1991 to 2002. The son of a copper miner and former union leader, Mr. Chiluba took office after almost three decades of one party rule by Kenneth Kaunda.

Mr. Chiluba was convicted by a court in London of stealing millions of dollars in state funds. In a separate case, a Zambian court acquitted him of corruption charges stemming from accusations he stole $500,000 in public money while in office.