The first deputy head of the High Council of State, Mohammed Baqi, died Saturday and was mourned by the HCS in a statement, which offered condolences to his family and described him as a patriot and a wise man who worked to achieve peace throughout his career.

Sources close to the deceased said that the cause of death was Coronavirus-related complications as he tested positive for COVID-19 few days ago.

The HCS delayed its presidency council election till after Eid Al-Adha because of the holiday and several members' positive Coronavirus results.

Mohammed Baqi started working as a first deputy head in July 2020 and the worked in the same position for a year starting in 2015. He was also a deputy head of the former General National Congress (GNC) and headed the dialogue delegation of the GNC in 2014.