Former New York senator and ambassador to India Daniel Patrick Moynihan died in a Washington hospital on Wednesday evening [US time]. He was 76.

His daughter Maura Moynihan told rediff.com that he was taken off life support in the afternoon. He had had an operation for an intestinal disorder in January. Following an emergency appendectomy on March 11, he developed an infection and was critical for the past several days.

Maura said the family was planning a memorial for him in New York, but had not finalised a date.

Hilary Rodham Clinton had succeeded Moynihan, a committed Democrat who served four terms, in his New York constituency in a high-profile change of guard.

During his stint at the American embassy in New Delhi, Moynihan became known as a friend of India and continued to take a keen interest in the region even during his senate days. His daughter is also an Indophile and is known for her close ties to the country.