Former Uruguayan President José Mujica announced Thursday that cancer in his esophagus had spread to his liver and that he had chosen to forego further treatment.
In what Mujica said would be his last interview, he said he was dying.
"Honestly, I'm dying," said the former leader, who governed the small South American nation of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.
"What I ask is that they leave me alone. Don't ask me for more interviews or anything else," he said. "My cycle is over."
Mujica asked to be buried in the garden, next to his dog.
"I will die here. Manuela is buried there. I am also making the papers to be buried there. That's all," he added.
As Uruguay's 40th president, he transformed his nation into one of the healthiest and most socially liberal democracies in Latin America, legalizing abortion, same-sex marriage and medical marijuana.
He eschewed living in the presidential palace to live on a small farm and donate most of his salary to charity.
