<span style="color: #222222;">Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan died in Switzerland today. He was 80. The Kofi Annan Foundation said, he passed away peacefully after a short illness. He was the first black African to become UN secretary-general. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Annan served two terms as UN chief from 1997 to 2006. He later served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for helping to revitalise the international body, during a period that coincided with the Iraq War and the HIV/Aids pandemic. UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said, he was grief-stricken over Annan's death.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed sorrow at the passing away of Mr. Annan.  Mr Kovind offered condolences to his family and the UN community. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a tweet, Mr Modi said, the world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said Mr. Annan's significant contribution to the Millennium Development Goals will always be remembered. He said his thoughts are with Mr Annan's family and admirers in this hour of grief. </span>