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

Moon set up the Church, whose members are often called Moonies, in the 1950s in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

He claimed to have millions of members, many in the US, but was accused of brainwashing and profiteering.

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

Church officials told the Associated Press news agency that Moon died on Monday at a hospital near his home in Gapyeong, north-east of Seoul.

He had been admitted to the hospital, which is owned by the Church, two weeks ago suffering from pneumonia.

‘Jesus plea’

The Church became notorious in the 1960s and 70s, often being accused of brainwashing members, breaking up families and lining Moon’s pockets.

He denied the allegations, but had to spend 11 months in jail after being convicted of tax evasion in 1982.

He owned large and lavish properties in the US, founded the Washington Times newspaper and ran arms factories in South Korea.

Moon was born in Pyongan province in what is now North Korea.

He claimed that, while he was praying at the age of 15, Jesus appeared to him and asked him to set up God’s kingdom on Earth.

Moon said he refused twice, but accepted on the third request.

He was later thrown out of the Presbyterian Church and also jailed and tortured by the Communists before he fled to the South.

BBC