Djibouti's ex-president dies

2006-11-22 13:29

Djibouti - Former Djibouti president Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the country's first ruler after independence from France in 1977, has died at his home after a long illness, says a member of his family.

Approximately 90 years old, Aptidon was buried within hours of his death on Tuesday before a large crowd, in keeping with Muslim tradition.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh declared three days of national mourning.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi wrote in a letter of condolence: "We would like to pay tribute to the remarkable career of this seasoned statesman who not only led the independence struggle of Djibouti, but also set the country on the right track of peace, democracy and development."

The letter said: "We have always regarded the late Mr Hassan Gouled as a true friend of Ethiopia."

Aptidon stepped down after ruling Djibouti for 22 years and paving the way for Guelleh - then his chief of staff - to succeed him as president.

Guelleh was elected in the country's first multi-party elections in 1999, and re-elected to a second term last year.

Located at the southern end of the Red Sea on the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti was a key staging post between the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal shipping route through to the Indian Ocean.

It was also home to the largest overseas French military base and the only United States military base in Africa.

- AFP