Former UN chief Boutros-Ghali dies at 93

NEW YORK

Former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has died, the UN confirmed Tuesday. He was 93.

The Egyptian scholar and politician led the world body for one term from Jan. 1, 1992 to Dec. 31, 1996.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters he was "deeply saddened" by the death of his predecessor, who brought "formidable experience and intellectual power to the task of piloting the United Nations through one of the most tumultuous and challenging periods in its history".

The Security Council observed a minute of silence following the announcement of Boutros-Ghali’s death.

The first African to hold the leading UN post, Boutros-Ghali also served as Egypt's minister of state for foreign affairs for nearly 14 years before being appointed deputy prime minister for foreign affairs in May 1991.

His term witnessed intensified UN post-cold war mediation efforts and lengthy UN peacekeeping operations in conflict-hit Bosnia, Rwanda and Somalia.

His bid for a second term was blocked by the U.S., a permanent member of the Security Council, amid criticism by the administration of then President Bill Clinton for refusing to cut the UN budget.

"[Boutros-Ghali] showed courage in posing difficult questions to the member states, and rightly insisted on the independence of his office and of the secretariat as a whole. His commitment to the United Nations -- its mission and its staff -- was unmistakable, and the mark he has left on the organization is indelible," Ban said.

Further details about his death were not immediately available.