prime minister, Soe Win was third in the leadership structure under Senior General Than Shwe and SPDC vice-chairman, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye. A senior member of the SPDC, Soe Win was close to Than Shwe, and the two men saw eye-to-eye on "nation building projects", which included constructing dams, roads and bridges. With his appointment as prime minister, he took a tougher line against political reform than did his immediate predecessor, Khin Nyunt. He was quoted as saying in January 2003 "the SPDC not only won’t talk to the NLD but also would never hand over power to the NLD." Health issues and death In March 2007, Soe Win was admitted to a private hospital in Singapore. The government was secretive about the nature of his illness, though it was reported in the media that he was suffering from leukemia. He returned to Burma on 3 May 2007, but then returned to Singapore later that month. The Burmese embassy in Singapore said he was being treated for a "serious health matter". In April 2007, Lieutenant General Thein Sein was appointed acting prime minister in Soe Win's absence. On 1 October 2007, in the wake of the anti-government protests, Soe Win returned to Burma. His condition was reported as "very ill" and he was admitted to a military hospital in Mingalardon Township, Rangoon. Soe Win's death was officially announced by the military authorities on 12 October. He died in Mingalardon Hospital, aged 60, from leukemia. His twin brother Major-General Tin Htun had died on 19 September 2007 of leukemia. Career timeline Commanding Officer No. 12 Light Infantry Regiment (1990) G.S.O. (1), Central Command (1993) Commander, No. 66 Light Infantry Division (1996) Commander, North West Command (1997) and Chairman of Sagaing Division, State Law and Order Restoration Council Chief of Air Defense Forces (November 2001) and Member of State Peace and Development Council Secretary-2, State Peace and Development Council (February 2003) Secretary-1, State Peace and Development Council (August 2003) Prime Minister of Myanmar (19 October 2004) Decorations and Medals Naingngandaw Sit-Hmu-Dan Tazeit Pyithusit Taik Pwe Win Tazeit Naingngandaw Ayegyantharyaye Tazeit Mong Yang Methawaw Taik Pwe Tazeit Tatmadaw Gonzaung Ahmu-Dan Tazeit (First Grade) Tatmadaw Gonzaung Ahmu-Dan Tazeit (Second Grade) Tatmadaw Gonzaung Ahmu-Dan Tazeit (Third Grade) Sit-Hmu-Dan Thet Tazeit Naingngan Akyo-Zaung Tazeit Sit Pwe Tazeit (1974–1988) Sit Pwe Tazeit (1988–1990) Sit-Hmu-Dan Gaung Tazeit Tatmadaw Shwe-Yatu Tazeit References External links Obituary in The Times, 15