Thatcher pays tribute to Reagan

2004-06-06 10:26

London - Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher paid tribute to Ronald Reagan, calling the former American president a "truly great American hero".

"President Reagan was one of my closest political and dearest personal friends," the 78-year-old baroness said on Saturday evening in London.

Reagan, one of America's most popular presidents when he left office 15 years ago, died on Saturday at the age of 93. Thatcher was one of his closest political allies.

"He will be missed not only by those who knew him and not only by the nation that he served so proudly and loved so deeply, but also by millions of men and women who live in freedom today because of the policies he pursued," she said.

Reagan won the Cold War without a single shot being fired, she said, all the while displaying humour and humanity.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Queen Elizabeth II was saddened by the news of Reagan's death.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the former US president would be remembered as "a good friend of Britain".

"At home his vision and leadership restored national self-confidence ... while abroad the negotiation of arms control agreements in his second term and his statesman-like pursuit of more stable relations with the Soviet Union helped bring about the end of the Cold War," a statement from Downing Street said. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA