Secretary-General mourns loss of former leader of Central African Republic

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has offered his condolences to the family of David Dacko, the first President of the Central African Republic (CAR), who died yesterday.

In a statement released today by his spokesman, Mr. Annan "learned with great sadness" of Mr. Dacko's death in a hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The Secretary-General described Mr. Dacko - who served as President of the CAR twice, from 1960 to 1965, and again from 1979 to 1981 - 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."

Mr. Annan extended his sympathies to the Government and people of the CAR, as well as to Mr. Dacko's family.