Vaclav Havel, the playwright turned dissident who led Czechoslovakias Velvet Revolution, had died at the age of 75 after years of battling ill health. Havel died on Sunday morning at his weekend house in the northern Czech Republic, his assistant Sabina Dancecova said. A former chain smoker, Havel had been suffering from respiratory and heart problems, and his health had declined over the past few months to the extent that public appearances became rare and his body gaunt and frail. In 1996 he had part of his right lung removed due to a tumour. His health had been further stressed by the pressure of producing his last play, Leaving, which made its debut in theatres earlier this year.