South African archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the symbols of the resistance against apartheid and promoter of reconciliation, has died. The South African presidency reports this.
Tutu was 90 years old. Anglican archbishop, in 1984 he won the Nobel Peace Prize as a symbol of the non-violent struggle against the racist regime.
After apartheid, after the election of Nelson Mandela as president of the new South Africa, Tutu conceived and chaired the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation created in 1995.
Commission that, in a painful and dramatic pacification process between the two parts of South African society, brought to light the atrocities committed during the decades of repression by whites.
Forgiveness was granted to those who, among those responsible for the atrocities committed, had fully confessed.
In announcing the death of Reverend Tutu, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed, "on behalf of all South Africans, profound sadness for the death, which took place Sunday, of an essential figure in the country's history".
(Unioneonline / L)
VIDEO: