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Lee Kuan Yew eulogized at funeral as architect of Singapore Founding father and former prime minister of Singapore who transformed country into one of world's richest nations dies aged 91 He was admired for the transition but feared for his authoritarian methods But he was criticised for his iron grip on power. Under him freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts. He was on life support after being admitted to hospital for pneumonia Lee transformed the country from a port city into a global finance centre He was admired for the transition but feared for his authoritarian methods President Barack Obama called him 'one of the legendary figures of Asia' Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew dies at age 91 (Reuters) Lee Kuan Yew, the towering figure in post-colonial Asia who oversaw Singapore's transformation to a global city in just over a generation, is dead at age 91 Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister and a towering figure in post-colonial Asia, is dead at age 91. He passed peacefully at a Singapore hospital in the early morning hours of Monday local time, according to the current Prime Minister's Facebook page. Lee Kuan Yew was widely credited as the architect behind the rapid rise of this tiny Southeast Asian city-state. A Cambridge-educated lawyer, he transformed Singapore from a British tropical outpost into an affluent, global city in just over a generation. Fifty years after it's formation, Singapore is one of Asia's most livable and corruption-free countries. But Lee also had little patience for opposition views and the Singapore he helped create has been criticized for heavy-handed government with little tolerance for dissent. (BBC) 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. The city-state's prime minister for 31 years, he was widely respected as the architect of Singapore's prosperity. But he was criticised for his iron grip on power. Under him freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts. A state funeral will be held on 29 March, after a week of mourning. Mr Lee oversaw Singapore's independence from Britain and separation from Malaysia. The announcement of his death came in the early hours of Monday. "The prime minister is deeply grieved to announce the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore," the office of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Lee's son, said in a statement. Mr Lee died peacefully at Singapore General Hospital at 03:18 local time on Monday (19:18 GMT on Sunday), it said. He had been in hospital for several weeks with severe pneumonia. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply saddened" by Mr Lee's death and offered his condolences to the people of Singapore. 'Incalculable contributions' A charismatic and unapologetic figure, Mr Lee co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore since 1959, and was its first prime minister. The PAP said in a statement on Facebook: "While we mourn the passing of one of the greatest leaders of our party, we celebrate his incalculable contributions to Singapore and its people." Singapore's President Tony Tan has written an open letter of condolence in which he describes Mr Lee as "the architect of our modern republic". line At the scene: Tessa Wong, BBC News The news broke early in Singapore, but it was an announcement many had expected. Mr Lee had been in hospital for more than a month and his condition worsened last week, prompting a deluge of concern both online and at public areas set up for people to pay tribute. As the nation woke up, a few people began arriving at the hospital, including a retiree and a family of four who wanted to pay their respects before their children went to school. Television and radio immediately began playing pre-recorded packages on Mr Lee's life. Mr Lee's son, PM Lee Hsien Loong, said he was "deeply grieved". In the days leading to his father's death, he had been a frequent visitor at the hospital. On Friday he shared a photo of himself as a baby smiling and held aloft by his father on social media. "So many happy memories over a lifetime," he wrote. Mr Lee, a Cambridge-educated lawyer, led Singapore through merger with, and then separation from, Malaysia - something that he described as a "moment of anguish". Speaking at a press conference after the split in 1965, he pledged to build a meritocratic, multi-racial nation. But tiny Singapore - with no natural resources - needed a new economic model. "We knew that if we were just like our neighbours, we would die," Mr Lee told the New York Times in 2007. "Because we've got nothing to offer against what they have to offer. So we had to produce something which is different and better than what they have."