Druze spiritual leader dies

The spiritual leader of the Druze, Sheikh Abu Hassan Aref Halawi, has died, officials say.

The cleric, leader of the community's gathering of elders, was more than 100 years old.

He reportedly died from pneumonia at his house in the Barouk mountains, south-east of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

An offshoot of Islam, the Druze have hundreds of thousands of followers in Lebanon and around the world.

There are small Druze communities in Israel, Syria and other Arab states.

In recent years, Sheikh Halawi had called on the Druze not to collaborate with Israel, especially by serving in the army.

Druze officials told news agencies that Sheikh Halawi would be buried near his home on Thursday.

He is survived by his wife. They had no children.