British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed on Monday his "sadness" for the death of former President Boris Yeltsin, saying he played a "vital role" in Russia's history.

"It is with sadness that I learned of the death of former President Boris Yeltsin," said Blair.

"He was a remarkable man who saw the need for democratic and economic reform and, in defending it, he played a vital role at a crucial time in Russia's history," said Blair.

According to a Kremlin spokesmen, Yeltsin has "died a sudden death in Moscow on Monday" at the age of 76.

Source: Xinhua