CBNNews.com - George Habash, founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), died at Jordan Hospital in Amman Saturday evening. He was 81.

Speaking from the hospital in Amman, senior PFLP activist Leila Khaled, a member of the Palestine National Council, said Habash suffered a massive heart attack and was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m.

Damascus-based PFLP spokesman Maher al-Taher confirmed the announcement, adding that Hadash had been living in Amman since 1992.

Born into a Greek Orthodox family in Lod (near Tel Aviv), Habash left the country at the start of the 1948 War of Independence and helped found the Arab Nationalist Movement in the 1950s.

In 1969, Habash assumed leadership of PFLP, a Marxist terror group that carried out airline hijackings and other terror attacks.

In 1970, Habash joined the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), but withdrew his membership four years later over disagreements with the late Yasser Arafat.

In 2000, Habash stepped down as leader of the PFLP, citing health issues.

Throughout his adult life, Habash maintained close ties with Syria, supported Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and opposed any negotiations or compromise with Israel.

Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced a three-day mourning period for Habash, during which flags will be flown at half mast. Abbas said he will receive mourners in PA headquarters in Ramallah.

Sources: YNet news service, Haaretz