Former Sudanese president Gaafar Muhammad Nimeiry died Saturday, reported Sudanese media, according to dpa. No cause of death was given for Nimeiry, who was 79. Nimeiry took control of Sudan 40 years ago and ruled until he was deposed in a bloodless coup by current Sudanese President, Omar al- Bashir, in 1985. He returned to Sudan in 1999 after an exile in Egypt. He was viewed as pro-Western and one of the few Arabic rules who supported peace between Israel and Egypt.