GENEVA, August 18, 2018 (News Wires) - European leaders are expressing sadness over the death of former UN chief Kofi Annan at age 80 and praising his graceful leadership. President Emmanuel Macron says in a tweet Saturday that "we will never forget his calm and resolute look, nor his strength in battles." British Prime Minister Theresa May in a tweet says Annan "made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into." "He was a titan amongst world statesman who saw wrong and righted it," says former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says on Twitter that Annan's "warmth should never be mistaken for weakness. ... The U.N. and the world have lost one of their giants." Former South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is mourning the death of fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan, saying "we give great thanks to god" for him. The death of the former U.N. secretary-general at age 80 after a short illness was announced Saturday. Tutu says the Ghanaian-born Annan "represented our continent and the world with enormous graciousness, integrity and distinction." Annan took over from Tutu as chair of The Elders, an elite group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela. Tutu calls it a "tremendous honor" to be succeeded by Annan and calls his death an "unexpected and devastating loss." The U.N.'s top human rights official says former U.N. chief Kofi Annan was "a friend to thousands and a leader of millions." Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein says that "in a world now filled with leaders who are anything but that, our loss, the world's loss, becomes even more painful." Annan's death at age 80 was announced Saturday. The Jordanian diplomat, whose four-year term ends Aug. 31, says in a statement he once told Annan how everyone was criticizing him and the former U.N. chief responded that "you're doing the right thing, let them grumble." The death of former U.N. secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan at age 80 has shaken people in the West African nation of Ghana, where he was born. The government and people of Ghana "are deeply saddened by the news of the death, in Berne, Switzerland, of one of our greatest compatriots," President Nana Akufo-Addo says on Twitter. Former President John Dramani Mahama says that "Kofi Annan lived well and worked for global peace, security and sustainable development in very challenging times. A proud son of Ghana and Africa." The focus of some of Kofi Annan's last statements was Zimbabwe, which the Nobel Peace Prize winner visited last month while urging a peaceful election. While the vote was calm, Annan denounced the violence that erupted in the capital two days later as the military swept into the streets to disperse opposition protesters. Opposition Nelson Chamisa is among those mourning Annan's death at age 80. "Deeply saddened by the sudden passing of the iconic Kofi Annan whom I met a few days ago," Chamisa says on Twitter. "A rare breed of diplomat; soft spoken but unshakeably firm." Shocked reactions are pouring in after the death of former U.N. secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan at age 80 after a short illness. "He was a good friend whom I saw only weeks ago," says former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "A great man, a dear brother," says the chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. "He was warm, compassionate & intelligent, exuding dignity & grace," says the new leader of Amnesty International, Kumi Naidoo. "International leader, wise mentor, valuable adviser, good friend, role model," says U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi. "We at UNHCR - and millions of others around the world - will miss him very much."
