Colleagues pay tribute to BBC News foreign correspondent Jon Leyne

The BBC today announced the death of foreign correspondent Jon Leyne.

The 55-year-old ended his Cairo posting earlier this year after suffering from severe headaches. He returned to Britain for treatment and was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

Fran Unsworth, Acting Director of BBC News, said: “Jon was a brave and courageous journalist in the best traditions of the BBC. He had an insatiable curiosity and told complex stories in an engaging and accessible way.”

His colleagues have paid tribute to him via Twitter..

Terrible news about colleague & friend Jon Leyne http://t.co/xKPeMznrvZ Always insightful, dispassionate analysis…top class. Sad sad loss.

— Aleem Maqbool (@AleemMaqbool) July 27, 2013

so sad to hear of the death of our colleague Jon Leyne. A very lovely man and fantastic journalist.

— maxine mawhinney (@maxinemawhinney) July 27, 2013

So sorry to hear #Jon Leyne has died. Not just a sterling correspondent, also a v pleasant man, who has been a huge part of our coverage.

— david eades (@bbcdavideades) July 27, 2013

Tehran, Cairo, Washington – Jon Leyne was a great BBC correspondent often working in the toughest circumstances. He'll be sadly missed.

— Sam Taylor (@samtaylornews) July 27, 2013

Jon Leyne obit: expelled from #Iran, saw Mubarak ousted, then in first charge into #Libya. Quite a career! http://t.co/Un4mG4r7MQ

— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) July 27, 2013