Former Tunisian Premier Mohamed Mzali, International Olympic Committe member, dies at 85

Published June 24, 2010 7:19am EDT | Updated November 17, 2014 1:57pm EST

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Former Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Mzali, a longtime member of the International Olympic Committee, has died in a Paris hospital after a long illness.

He was 85 years old. The IOC and Tunisia's president praised Mzali's contribution to sports and culture over the decades.

Mzali was a minister in Tunisia's Cabinet for several years before serving as prime minister from 1980 to 1986. He was elected a member of the IOC in 1965 and held several top positions on the committee.

His family said his body was being flown back to Tunisia on Thursday for burial.