Lee Kuan Yew, the statesman who transformed Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy global hub, has died at the age of 91.
Lee served as the city-state's prime minister for 31 years, and continued to work in government until 2011.
Highly respected as the architect of Singapore's prosperity, Lee was also criticised for his iron grip on power.
Under him, freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts.
The BBC says the announcement was made "with deep sorrow" by the press secretary of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lee's son.