Xi, other leaders mourn Raisi's death

BEIJING, May 20 (AFP): China's President Xi Jinping on Monday paid tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, describing his "tragic death" in a helicopter crash as "a great loss to the Iranian people".
Raisi was declared dead on Monday after rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a fog-shrouded western mountain region.
Xi sent "sincere condolences" to the Iran's first vice president, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing. "(Raisi's) tragic death is a great loss to the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend," Wang quoted Xi as saying.
France extended its condolences on Monday to Iran over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash.
"France offers its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and those accompanying them," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia extended its condolences on Monday to Iran over the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, "offer their condolences to his excellency, the acting head of the executive authority, Mohammad Mokhbe.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim aid Monday he was "deeply saddened" by the death of Iranian President brahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash, noting their shared commitment to strengthening ties.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently invited Iran to join the BRICS group, expressed deep regret Monday over the death of President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Iran's Gulf neighbours the United Arab Emirates and Qatar on Monday mourned the deaths of president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash.