Lee Kuan Yew, the statesman who transformed
Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy
global hub, has died at the age of 91.
The city-state's prime minister for 31 years, he was
widely respected as the architect of Singapore's
prosperity.
But he was criticised for his iron grip on power.
Under him freedom of speech was tightly restricted
and political opponents were targeted by the courts.
A state funeral will be held on 29 March, after a week
of mourning.
In an emotional televised address, his son Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid tribute to him.
"He fought for our independence, built a nation
where there was none, and made us proud to be
Singaporeans. We won't see another man like him."
Mr Lee oversaw Singapore's independence from
Britain and separation from Malaysia. His death was
announced early on Monday. He had been in hospital
for several weeks with pneumonia and was on life
support.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was
"deeply saddened" by Mr Lee's death. US
President Barack Obama described him as a "giant of
history". The Chinese foreign ministry called him "a
uniquely influential statesman in Asia".
'Lifetime of building'
In Singapore, a steady stream of people arrived at
the hospital and the Istana, the prime minister's
office, to offer their condolences.
A charismatic figure, Mr Lee co-founded the People's
Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore
since 1959, and was its first prime minister.
The Cambridge-educated lawyer led Singapore
through merger with, and then separation from,
Malaysia.
Speaking after the split in 1965, he pledged to build a
meritocratic, multi-racial nation. But tiny Singapore -
with no natural resources - needed a new economic
model.
"We knew that if we were just like our neighbours, we
would die," Mr Lee told the New York Times in 2007.
"We had to produce something which is different and
better than what they have." www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32012346

There is time for everything. RIP