Lee Kuan Yew is dead

Lee Kuan Yew, the legendary former prime minister of Singapore, has died at the age of 91. He had been in hospital for several weeks with pneumonia.

Prime Minister for 31 years, Lee Kuan Yew is credited with transforming Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy global hub.

But his record was not an umblimished one. He was criticised for his iron grip on power, and the fact that under his leadership freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts.

In a 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.

SOURCE: BBC