Peter Jennings dies, 67

Peter Jennings, an anchor with American television network ABC, died on Sunday at the age of 67.

ABC announced late Sunday night US time that Jennings died at his home in New York City. He is survived by his wife, his two children and his sister.

In a short statement Sunday night, his wife and children said:

"Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life."

In April, Jennings revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was to immediately begin chemo-therapy. His last broadcast on World News Tonight was on April 5, 2005. However, he frequently sent messages to fans and well-wishers via the ABC News website. Some of his last comments regarded the July 7 terror attacks on London, a city in which he had spent more than 15 years living and working.

ABC News president David Westin wrote a memo to his colleagues when the announcement was made public. It reads:

"For four decades, Peter has been our colleague, our friend, and our leader in so many ways. None of us will be the same without him.

"As you all know, Peter learned only this spring that the health problem he'd been struggling with was lung cancer. With Kayce, he moved straight into an aggressive chemotherapy treatment. He knew that it was an uphill struggle. But he faced it with realism, courage, and a firm hope that he would be one of the fortunate ones. In the end, he was not.

"We will have many opportunities in the coming hours and days to remember Peter for all that he meant to us all. It cannot be overstated or captured in words alone. But for the moment, the finest tribute we can give is to continue to do the work he loved so much and inspired us to do."

The Toronto-born Jennings joined ABC News in 1964. From 1965 to 1967, he anchored Peter Jennings with the News. From 1968-1975, he served as the network's bureau chief in Beirut. In 1975, he spent a short spell anchoring A.M. America before moving to Rome and then London to become the network's Chief Foreign Correspondent. In 1978, he began co-anchoring World News Tonight and became anchor and senior editor of the broadcast in 1983. He was widely regarded as one of America's most influential journalists.

ABC has announced that Monday night's edition of World News Tonight will pay tribute to Jennings. In the UK, the broadcast airs on a tape delay at 01:30 BST Tuesday morning on BBC News 24.