World pays tribute to Czech statesman Vaclav Havel death

[link to www.bbc.co.uk]

Tributes have been flooding in from around the world following the death of the Czech Republic's first President, Vaclav Havel.

US President Barack Obama said Mr Havel had "helped to unleash tides of history that led to a democratic Europe".

The Czech Republic is observing a week of mourning and hundreds of candles have been lit in Wenceslas Square - once the focal point of the "Velvet Revolution" that overthrew the country's communist regime.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Czech Republic had lost "one of its great patriots".

"France has lost a friend, and Europe has lost one of its wisest men," he said.