Sen Ted Kennedy loses battle with cancer

American reports indicate that U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, known as the Lion of the American Senate, has died.

"Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts)," the Kennedy family said in a statement early on Wednesday.

Kennedy, a staunch Democrat, was one of the most influential and longest-serving senators in U.S. history and was known to extend a hand across all party line to broker bills that were for the good of the American people.

Kennedy, 77, had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008.

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