US President Obama offers condolences, calls Lee Kuan Yew a "true giant of history"

US President Barack Obama has offered his condolences to the family of Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died early Monday morning, and said that he "joins the people of Singapore in mourning the loss of this remarkable man".

"He was a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one of the great stategists of Asian affairs," Mr Obama said.

"A visionary who led his country from Singapore's independence in 1965 to build one of the most prosperous countries in the world today, he was a devoted public servant and a remarkable leader," he said in a statement released by the White House.

Mr Obama added that the late Mr Lee's views and insights on Asian dynamics and economic management were respected by many around the world, and that no small number of this and past generations of world leaders have sought his advice on governance and development.

"I personally appreciated his wisdom, including our discussions during my trip to Singapore in 2009, which were hugely important in helping me formulate our policy of rebalancing to the Asia Pacific. He was a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one the great strategists of Asian affairs," Mr Obama said.

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