mGENEVA – Former United Nations Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prizelaureate Kofi Annan died at the age of 80 on Saturday after a shortillness, his foundation announced.

“It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi AnnanFoundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the UnitedNations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18thAugust after a short illness,” the foundation said in a statement.

“His wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his sideduring his last days.”

The Ghanaian national, who lived in Switzerland, was a career diplomat whoprojected quiet charisma and who is widely credited for raising the worldbody’s profile in global politics during his two terms as UN chief, from1997 to 2006.

He quickly became a familiar face on television, with his name makingnewspaper headlines, and he was a sought-after guest at gala events and NewYork dinner parties.

Current UN chief Antonio Guterres voiced deep sadness at the news,describing his predecessor as “a guiding force for good”.

“In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations,” he added.

“He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millenniumwith matchless dignity and determination.

“Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor.”

The first secretary general from sub-Saharan Africa, Annan led the UnitedNations through the divisive years of the Iraq war and was later accused ofcorruption in the oil-for-food scandal, one of the most trying times of histenure.

In 2001, as the world was reeling from the September 11 attacks, Annan wasawarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the world body “for their workfor a better organised and more peaceful world”. – APP/AFP