Mr Nasir died at a Singapore hospital on Saturday and his body was flown to the Maldives and kept for public viewing at the president's office, Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaeed said on Sunday, adding that the cause of death was not known.

Born on Sept 2, 1926, Mr Nasir became the prime minister of the British protectorate in 1957 at the age of 31.

He signed an agreement with the British that won independence for the Indian Ocean island in 1965.

In 1968, three years after independence, Mr Nasir became the Maldives' first president and held that position until he resigned 10 years later. He was accused of ruling the country as a dictator and fled in 1978 amid public resentment and unproven allegations of corruption in handling public funds.

Mr Nasir modernised the country's fishing industry and introduced tourism, for which the Maldives is now world famous.

President Mohamed Nasheed and his ministers were to be present at the burial on Sunday night.

Mr Nasir is survived by two sons and a daughter. -- AP