Indonesia's former president Suharto has suffered multiple organ failure and is on a ventilator, doctors said.
The doctors said Suharto's brain and other organs failed as his blood pressure fell, although how much time he has to live is unknown.
Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for more than three decades until he quit amid a student-led uprising in 1998, was losing consciousness and having difficulty breathing at 5pm today, according to Pertamina hospital in Jakarta.
Indonesia's vice president, Jusuf Kalla, went to the hospital to be a witness at the former general's death. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is in Malaysia.
Suharto was taken to Pertamina hospital a week ago suffering from anaemia and low blood pressure due to heart, lung and kidney problems.
His health worsened today as doctors said he appeared to have a lung infection. The former general has been critically ill for several days.
Suharto was charged with embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds after he quit office, but the government later dropped the case due to his poor health. He and his family deny any wrongdoing.
Today, a group of 20 people belonging to a solidarity group for victims of human right violations in the Suharto era gathered at the hospital bearing banners with the words "Put Suharto on trial" and a huge bouquet wishing him well.