Spanish king's faithful adviser Fernandez Campo dies at age 91

Madrid - Spanish political leaders on Monday paid tribute to Sabino Fernandez Campo, a close collaborator of King Juan Carlos who died overnight at the age of 91 years. The former general secretary of the royal palace, who helped the king thwart a coup attempt in 1981, died of complications caused by stomach problems at a Madrid clinic.

Fernandez Campo served the Spanish royal family for two decades, helping to consolidate the monarchy in democratic conditions after the death of 1939-75 dictator Francisco Franco.

A former army general, Fernandez Campo served as a government official under Franco and in the years following his death.

In 1977, the law graduate became general secretary of the royal palace at a time when many Spaniards still felt distrust towards the monarchy.

Franco had picked Juan Carlos as his successor as head of state, and many Spaniards saw the king as the dictator's puppet until he gained widespread popularity by foiling a coup attempt in 1981.

Fernandez Campo played a key role in advising Juan Carlos, who gave a television address in uniform, condemning the coup and ordering the insurgent soldiers and paramilitary Civil Guard officers to go back to their barracks.

Fernandez Campo also helped to plan the education of Crown Prince Felipe, who was born in 1968 and is due to succeed his 71-year-old father.

In 1990, Fernandez Campo became palace protocol chief, a post he held until 1993, when the king made him his private adviser.

In 1992, the king gave Fernandez Campo the title of Count of Latores as an expression of his gratitude.

"Our monarchy is more modern than the English one and has adapted to the current times," Fernandez Campo once said.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist Party described Fernandez Campo as a "great servant of the state" while opposition conservative spokeswoman Soraya Saenz de Santamaria stressed his "intelligence" and "discretion."

A funerary chapel was being opened in Madrid for the royal adviser, who was due to be buried in his native Oviedo in the north on Tuesday.