Timor-Leste mourns former President Francisco Guterres, dead at 71
What's new: The government declared a week of mourning, with flags at public buildings, embassies and consulates at half-staff.
Timor-Leste is mourning former President Francisco Guterres, who died Sunday at age 71 in a Malaysian hospital after serving as the country's sixth president from 2017 to 2022. Guterres was a longtime figure in the struggle for independence and later helped build the young nation's democratic institutions. President Jose Ramos-Horta, who defeated him in the 2022 election, called him a "great patriot" and said his death was a major loss for the country. Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also sent condolences, praising Guterres' role in fostering national unity and strengthening a sovereign Timor-Leste.