Renowned Lebanese author and poet Ounsi El-Hajj died on Tuesday after a two-month struggle with illness. He was 77.

El-Hajj was one of the most influential Lebanese poets of the second half of the twentieth century and a key contributor to Lebanon's cultural and poetic renaissance.

He also wrote columns for Annahar and Al-Akhbar daily newspapers.

El-Hajj was born in South Lebanon on 27 July 1937 and started publishing while still at school in the mid-50s.

His first poetry collection, Lann (Not), was published in 1960 and sparked controversy because of its style.

He joined Al-Hayat newspaper in 1956, then later joined Annahar, where he headed its cultural section until he became its chief editor from 1992 until 2003.

He issued Annahar's cultural supplement, one of the best cultural journals in the Arab region, and established Poetry magazine in 1957.