Costas Simitis, former Greek prime minister and socialist le...

ATHENS, Greece -- Costas Simitis, former prime minister of Greece and the architect of the country's joining the common European currency, the euro, has died at age 88, state TV ERT reported. Simitis was taken to a hospital in the city of Corinth early Sunday morning from his holiday home west of Athens, unconscious and without a pulse, the hospital's director was quoted as saying by Greek media. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. The government decreed a four-day period of official mourning. Simitis will receive a state funeral. Warm tributes appeared, and not just from political allies. "I bid farewell to Costas Simitis with sadness and respect. A worthy and noble political opponent," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a Facebook post, also saluting the "good professor and moderate parliamentarian." Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Si...