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View of Marbella: Kasia Gallanio died in Spain
Photo: Chris Sattlberger/Getty Images
The former Qatari princess Kasia Gallanio is dead. This is reported by the French newspaper "Le Parisien" and the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo" in unison.
Police reportedly found Gallanio dead at her home in Marbella, Spain, on Sunday morning, according to reports.
She was 45 years old.
Gallanio was the ex-wife of 73-year-old Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the uncle of the Emir of Qatar.
"El Mundo" reports that a daughter of Gallanio informed the police because she had not had any contact with her mother for four days.
The police then found the body.
Signs of violence were not found.
Le Parisien reports that an autopsy has been ordered.
According to initial findings, a drug overdose could be the cause of death.
custody dispute
Gallanio had a lengthy dispute over custody of their children with her ex-husband, Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
The father had been accused of sexually abusing one of his daughters.
He denies the allegations.
Al-Thani was once Minister of Finance of Qatar.
In 1992 he went into exile in France.
He is now said to be living in Paris with his daughters.
ptz