'Moonies' founder Sun Myung Moon dies at 92

Self-styled messiah Sun Myung Moon, whose Unification Church became famous for marrying thousands of people in a single ceremony, has died, aged 92.

Unification Church spokesman Ahn Ho-yeul said Moon died Monday at a church-owned hospital near his home in Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, two weeks after being hospitalized with pneumonia.

Moon set up the Church, popularly known as the Moonies, in the 1950s in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

He attracted huge publicity through mass weddings, and his claims to be the new messiah chosen by God.

Moon was also a fervent anti-Communist and set up newspapers and media businesses around the world.

-BBC