Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier has died of a heart attack at the age of 63.

Duvalier, who death was confirmed by his lawyer, was accused of corruption and crimes against humanity for the killings and torture that occurred during his 15 years in power in the Caribbean country.

He inherited the title of 'president for life' from his father in 1971, at the age of 19, but fled Haiti to take up permanent exile in France after a popular uprising in 1986.

Duvalier surprisingly returned to the impoverished country in January 2011 and was briefly detained on charges of corruption, theft and misappropriation of funds.