Lee Kuan Yew Death Latest News: Singaporeans Brave Long Wait to Pay Last Respects to Father of Nation

Singaporeans mourned the death of their nation's founding father, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, as thousands formed lines a few kilometers long outside Parliament House on Wednesday to pay their last respects.

Some of the mourners had to stand in line for up to eight hours under the heat of the sun before they could view Lee's body who lay in state at Parliament House, according to a Reuters report.

In a country where public gatherings are restricted by the government, the sight of thousands of mourners in queues stretching and snaking from Parliament House to Chinatown, passing over a river and across the financial district, was an extraordinary one.

Lee died on Monday, aged 91. The former prime minister had been under intensive care for pneumonia since early February. His coffin was taken by gun carriage to Parliament House on Wednesday morning.

Singapore has already declared a week of national mourning starting on Monday. A state funeral for Lee will be held on Sunday, March 29.

Due to the massive turnout of mourners, the government allowed publicviewings around the clock up to Saturday evening. The government also kept its subway system running 24 hours a day to help transport mourners.

Lee, Singapore's first prime minister, is credited as the economic architect who transformed the city-state of Singapore from a British colonial outpost into one of the world's wealthiest nations and the region's trade and finance powerhouse.

Lee dominated Singapore's politics for over three decades.

"He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans. We won't see another man like him," said his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a televised address.

Although criticized for his iron grip, it was under Lee's direction that Singapore rose to First World status from Third World levels in hardly more than one generation. Lee helped Singapore gain huge investments and attract the world's biggest firms through his core principles, which include a "focus on clean and efficient government, business-friendly economic policies, and social order," the Wall Street Journal said.

U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement that he "was deeply saddened" to learn of the death of Lee, whom he described as "a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one the great strategists of Asian affairs."

"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our deepest condolences to the Lee family and join the people of Singapore in mourning the loss of this remarkable man. A visionary who led his country from Singapore's independence in 1965 to build one of the most prosperous countries in the world today, he was a devoted public servant and a remarkable leader," he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said Lee "was always a friend to Britain, if sometimes a critical one, and many British Prime Ministers benefited from his wise advice, including me."

He added: "Lady Thatcher once said that there was no Prime Minister she admired more than Mr. Lee for 'the strength of his convictions, the clarity of his views, the directness of his speech and his vision of the way ahead.' His place in history is assured, as a leader and as one of the modern world's foremost statesmen."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Lee was "a great Asian leader who laid the foundation for the prosperity of Singapore today."

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent their condolences, describing Lee as a "strategist with oriental values and international perspectives."

"He was the creator and founder of China-Singapore bilateral relations and promoted the long-term mutually beneficial cooperation for the two countries, made historical contributions for the establishment and development the two nations," the Chinese statement said.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that Lee was "a legendary figure in Asia."

"As Singapore marks its 50th anniversary of independence this year, its founding father will be remembered as one of the most inspiring Asian leaders," said U.N.'s top official.