Condolences pour in over death of Queen Elizabeth II

ANKARA

Condolences continued to pour in on Friday from across the world after the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the queen's death a "great loss not only to the British people but also to the international community."

"Japan’s thoughts are with the United Kingdom as the British people overcome this deepest sadness," he said.

China's President Xi Jinping extended "sincere sympathy" to the British royal family, government, and its people.

The queen, who was the first British monarch to visit China in 1986, had "won wide acclaim," said Xi, terming her death "a great loss to the British people."

Expressing “profound sadness” on the death of the British monarch, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the “world has lost a true figure of majesty.”

“She exemplified to the world a true monarch's great dignity, commitment to duty, and devotion to all those in her realm,” Marcos added.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said the self-ruled island nation "remembers and celebrates" the late queen's "life of leadership and service, which set an example for people around the world."

Bangladesh's President M Abdul Hamid conveyed his deepest sympathy to members of the royal family and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.

Bangladesh also declared three days of state mourning for the death of the queen, said the Cabinet Department. The national flag will be at half-staff on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Africa

Macky Sall, Senegal's president and the African Union chairman, said: “I learned the sad news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Britain. I salute the memory of the illustrious deceased, with an exceptional career. Rest in peace.”

Congolese President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo expressed his sadness at the death of the queen.

The head of state presents his sincere condolences to the royal family, the British people and to the authorities of the United Kingdom, the Congolese presidency said in a statement.

In a tweet, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia, I extend deepest condolences to the British @RoyalFamily, the Government and the people of Great Britain on the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II.”

Britain's longest-serving monarch died at the age of 96, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.

She has been succeeded by her son King Charles III. The king will arrive in London on Friday where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Liz Truss and address the nation.

*Addis Getachew in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Najmus Sakib and Md. Kamruzzaman in Dhaka, Bangladesh; James Tsamba in Kigali, Rwanda and Riyaz ul Khaliq in Istanbul contributed to this report.