The White House said Monday that former Russian president Boris Yeltsin was "a historic figure" and sent condolences to his family.

Meanwhile, the State Department said Yeltsin led Russia through a period of "historic transformation."

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the Russian people. Former President Yeltsin led Russia through a period of historic transformation," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

A Kremlin spokesman announced Monday that former Russian president Boris Yeltsin had died at the age of 76.

The former president "died a sudden death in Moscow on Monday," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Kremlin source as saying.

Born on Feb. 1, 1931, Yeltsin worked as construction worker, communist party official and served as Russia's first elected president since 1991 and after the independence of the former Soviet Union member country.

He transferred power to President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 31, 1999 and resigned from his post of president. He then kept a low profile.

Source: Xinhua