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Condolences pour as father of the nation departs

ABU DHABI: Reverential tributes were to the memory of the President His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as condolence messages poured in from all quarters, expounding the qualities of head and heart of the departed leader.

Praying for his soul to rest in peace, they expressed the hope that God will give the members of the bereaved family as well as the people of the UAE for all of whom he was a father-figure and an exemplary leader, the courage to bear the loss.

Richard Makepeace, British ambassador: Sheikh Zayed was a great leader of his people and the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. The immense achievements of the UAE are the clear tribute to his vision and his wisdom.

Those who had the honour to meet him could not fail to be touched by his humanity, and genuine interest in the welfare of all his people. He leaves to the UAE an impressive legacy of stability, progress and prosperity.

His death will be deeply mourned, not only here in the UAE, but across the world. In international affairs he always stood firmly on the side of generosity, justice and fairness. He was a good friend to my country. On behalf of the British Government, the British people and the British community here in the UAE I offer my profound condolences. His many British friends and admirers will mourn his passing away and honour his memory.

Sudhir Vyas, Indian ambassador: Shaikh Zayed has been a long-standing friend of India and our relations have grown and prospered under his wise leadership. For the million-strong community of Indian expatriates here, he was a father figure. Indians mourn this loss along with their Emirati brothers and sisters. We have seen the UAE grow and prosper under Shaikh Zayed's leadership and for us its the passing of an era.

P.D. Jayaratne, Charge d'Affaires, Sri Lankan embassy: It is an irreplaceable loss not only to the UAE, but to Sri Lanka. The 160,000-strong Sri Lankan community here, for whom the UAE is a home away from home, join the people of the UAE at this tragic hour. The Government of Sri Lanka extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the President.

Air Marshal (Retd.) Syed Qaiser Hussain, Pakistan ambassador: On my behalf and on behalf of the Pakistani community living in the UAE, I express my heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Shaikh Zayed. The sad news has been received with shock and grief all across Pakistan.

Shaikh Zayed was a leading statesman of the world and his wisdom and exceptional intelligence was a source of strength, peace and stability in the regional and world affairs. In his death, the people of Pakistan have lost a father-figure who was always keen in the welfare of Pakistan. In this hour of extreme grief, the Pakistani community solidly stands with its UAE brethren.

May Almighty Allah rest his soul in eternal peace and give the bereaved leadership and people of the UAE the courage to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

Dickgang Moopeloa: South African ambassador: The Government and the people of South Africa are deeply saddened by the demise of Shaikh Zayed. On behalf of our people and the South African community here we offer our heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family.

Hajime Tsujimoto, Japanese ambassador: On behalf of the government and people of Japan and the Japanese community in the UAE, I express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Their Highnesses, the honourable Al Nahyan Shaikhs and the Government and people of the UAE, over the demise of Shaikh Zayed.