UN chief mourns death of former Central African president

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 22, 2003

UN chief mourns death of former Central African president

The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday expressed his condolences to the family of David Dacko, the first president of the Central African Republic (CAR).

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The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday expressed his condolences to the family of David Dacko, the first president of the Central African Republic (CAR).

In a statement released by his spokesman, Annan said he learned"with great sadness" of Dacko's death in a hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon.

The secretary-general described Dacko as "a major political figure in the history of his country...who will be remembered for his long service to the people of the CAR."

"The secretary-general extends his deepest sympathies to DavidDacko's bereaved family and to the government and people of the Central African Republic," said the statement.

Dacko served as two terms of office as president, from 1960-1965, and later from 1979-1981. He was best remembered for steering his country to independence from France. He died Thursdaynight at the age of 76 in a hospital in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.

Francios Bozize, the current president of the African nation, has proclaimed a one-month national mourning.

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