United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said in a statement that he is "deeply saddened" by the death of Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, and offered condolences to Mr Lee's family, the government and the people of Singapore.
A statement released by Mr Ban's spokesman on Monday noted that Singapore marks its 50th anniversary of independence this year and that its "founding father will be remembered as one of the most inspiring Asian leaders".
The statement, released hours after Mr Lee's death, said Mr Lee was "a legendary figure in Asia, widely respected for his strong leadership and statesmanship".
It paid tribute to Mr Lee's efforts in helping Singapore "transition from a developing country to one of the most developed in the world" during his three decades in office.
The spokesman said Mr Ban is "grateful for the strong cooperation between the Government of Singapore and the United Nations, and looks forward to deepening this partnership".
