BANGUI, Central African Republic -- Former Central African Republic president David Dacko, who was ousted from power by dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa, has died, state radio said on Friday.

Dacko, who presided over the former French colony's independence only to be overthrown by Bokassa, his cousin, had long suffered from asthma and a heart condition. He died Thursday from respiratory problems, the radio said. He was 73.

Dacko took over as president of the landlocked nation at age 30 after independence leader Barthelemy Boganda was killed in a plane crash in 1959.

"President Dacko died in a hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon, while attempts were being made to evacuate him to France because of the state of his health," the radio said.

He went on to preside over the nation's declaration of independence but on New Year's Day in 1966, he was overthrown by the future self-proclaimed Emperor Bokassa.

The flamboyant and capricious dictator, whose rule was shrouded by allegations of cannibalism and infanticide, was then overthrown in 1979 with the help of French paratroopers. Dacko was reinstated as leader.

Dacko won elections in 1981 but was soon after pushed aside by military ruler Andre Kolingba.

Central African Republic is rich in diamonds but impoverished by rampant corruption, smuggling and financial mismanagement. At the United Nations in New York, Secretary General Kofi Annan called Dacko "a major political figure in the history of his country."

"He will be remembered for his long service to the people of the Central African Republic," Annan said in a statement.