Singapore has started a seven-day national mourning after the death of its founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
Lee, who died at 91, led Singapore’s transformation from a small port city to one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
Many world leaders have paid tribute to Lee, who served as the city-state’s prime minister for 31 years. US President, Barack Obama, described Lee as a “giant of history” whose advice had been sought by other world leaders.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, said Lee was a widely respected strategist and statesman, and Russian President Vladimir Putin described him as one of the “patriarchs” of world politics.
The period of national mourning will be concluded with a state funeral on Sunday and his body is to lie in state at parliament from Wednesday to Saturday.
A private family wake is taking place on Monday and Tuesday.
Lee’s death was announced in a government statement that said he had “passed away peacefully” on Sunday at Singapore General Hospital.
The late founder of modern day Singapore had been in the hospital for several weeks with pneumonia and was on life support.
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