Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk dies at 89

• Norodom Sihanouk passed of natural causes
• Ruled for a half century and was beloved by the people
• Abdicated throne in 2004 for son, Norodom Sihamoni

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Norodom Sihanouk, the former Cambodian king who remained an influentual figure in his country's politics through a half-century of war, genocide and upheaval, has died. He was 89.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Sihanouk died early Monday of natural causes in Beijing, where he had traveled for medical treatment earlier this year.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, a royal family member who was also Sihanouk's assistant, said the former king had suffered a heart attack at a Beijing hospital.

"His death was a great loss to Cambodia," Thomico said, adding that Sihanouk had dedicated his life "for the sake of his entire nation, country and for the Cambodia people."

Sihanouk was a key figure in Cambodian politics for six decades but abdicated in 2004, citing poor health, and was succeeded by a son, Norodom Sihamoni.

Sihanhouk had been in China since January, and had suffered a variety of illnesses, including colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension.

Kanharith said arrangements were being made to repatriate his body for an official funeral in Cambodia.

In January, Sihanouk requested that he be cremated in the Cambodian and Buddhist tradition, asking that his ashes be put in an urn, preferably made of gold, and placed in a stupa at the country's Royal Palace.

Sihanouk saw Cambodia reel from colony to kingdom, U.S.-backed regime to Khmer Rouge killing field and foreign-occupied land to guerrilla war zone — and finally to a fragile experiment with democracy.

Sihanouk was a feudal-style monarch beloved by his people. But he was seldom able to deliver the stability they craved through decades of violence.