Ban Ki-Moon Hails the 'Hero' as World Leaders Pay Tribute to 'Israeli Patriot' Sharon

World leaders paid tribute Saturday to former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, calling him a patriot who made "brave decisions" to secure his country's future, but his foes derided him as a "criminal".

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed Sharon on Saturday as a "hero" to Israelis, who would leave behind a "legacy of pragmatism" in the Middle East.

"Ariel Sharon was a hero to his people, first as a soldier and then a statesman," the U.N. leader said in a statement issued by his spokesman shortly after the Israeli leader's death.

"Prime Minister Sharon will be remembered for his political courage and determination to carry through with the painful and historic decision to withdraw Israeli settlers and troops from the Gaza Strip," Ban said.

"The secretary-general calls on Israel to build on the late prime minister's legacy of pragmatism to work towards the long overdue achievement of an independent and viable Palestinian state, next to a secure Israel," said the U.N. leader, offering "condolences to the bereaved family and to the government and people of Israel."

U.S. President Barack Obama also paid tribute to Sharon, commemorating "a leader who dedicated his life to the State of Israel."

"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the family of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and to the people of Israel," a White House statement said.

"We reaffirm our unshakable commitment to Israel's security. We continue to strive for lasting peace and security for the people of Israel, including through our commitment to the goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security," it added.

Sharon, who died in hospital near Tel Aviv, aged 85, after eight years in a coma, was remembered in warm terms by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who noted that the long-ill ex-premier was "finally at rest."

"I remember reading about Arik in the papers when I was a young lawyer in Boston and marveling at his commitment to cause and country," said Kerry, who is currently leading global efforts to reconcile Israelis and Palestinians.

"I will never forget meeting with this big bear of a man when he became prime minister as he sought to bend the course of history toward peace," said Kerry.

"In his final years as prime minister, he surprised many in his pursuit of peace, and today, we all recognize, as he did, that Israel must be strong to make peace, and that peace will also make Israel stronger."

Other U.S. politicians also paid tribute.

"I join the people of the Jewish state of Israel in mourning the loss of Ariel Sharon, one of the greatest warrior-statesmen in modern history," said Republican John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives.

"Sharon's contribution to establishing and defending Israel's independence is incalculable and his devotion to peace undisputed," Boehner added.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House, hailed Sharon's courage "in his decision to disengage from the Gaza Strip," by pulling Israeli forces and settlers out in 2005.

"It was a difficult choice founded in the same tenet that defined so much of Sharon's career: the national security interest of the people and the nation of Israel," Pelosi said in a statement.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, praised Sharon as "a legendary military man," who "distinguished himself as a strategist and a soldier in virtually every major Israeli conflict of the second half of the 20th century."

"Israel has lost one of its greatest sons and America a friend in the passing of Ariel Sharon," McConnell added.

Meanwhile, former U.S. president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, an ex-Secretary of State, praised Sharon as a leader who "who gave his life to Israel."

In a statement issued shortly after the former Israeli prime minister's death, the Clintons said: "It was an honor to work with him, argue with him, and watch him always trying to find the right path for his beloved country."

"Ariel Sharon gave his life to Israel -- to bring it into being, to sustain and preserve it, and at the end of his long service, to create a new political party committed to both a just peace and lasting security," they added.

Other U.S. politicians also paid tribute to Sharon, who died in hospital near Tel Aviv, aged 85, after eight years in a coma.

"I join the people of the Jewish state of Israel in mourning the loss of Ariel Sharon, one of the greatest warrior-statesmen in modern history," said Republican John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives.

"Sharon's contribution to establishing and defending Israel's independence is incalculable and his devotion to peace undisputed," Boehner added.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House, hailed Sharon's courage "in his decision to disengage from the Gaza Strip," by pulling Israeli forces and settlers out in 2005.

"It was a difficult choice founded in the same tenet that defined so much of Sharon's career: the national security interest of the people and the nation of Israel," Pelosi said in a statement.

"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dedicated his life to building, defending, and leading the state of Israel. He was a soldier and an officer, a public servant to his people and a powerful voice for his beliefs and values," she added.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, praised Sharon as "a legendary military man," who "distinguished himself as a strategist and a soldier in virtually every major Israeli conflict of the second half of the 20th century."

"Israel has lost one of its greatest sons and America a friend in the passing of Ariel Sharon," McConnell added.

Sharon was a polarizing figure in his home country, falling foul of the left for his unstinting support for settlement building while alienating the right through a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

But foreign leaders praised his decision on Gaza, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling it "courageous".

With that, "he took an important historic step on the road towards reconciliation with the Palestinians and for a two-state solution," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also hailed Sharon for making "brave and controversial decisions in pursuit of peace, before he was so tragically incapacitated".

"Israel has today lost an important leader," Cameron said in a statement issued by Downing Street of the man who is one of the last members of the generation which founded the Jewish state in 1948.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described Sharon as a "great political and military" figure in condolences sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a Kremlin statement.

Putin also said he has a "high esteem of the personal qualities of Sharon and his activities aimed at defending the interests of Israel".

Russia has a complex relationship with Israel, with the two sides enjoying friendly ties even though Moscow is a key backer of Israel's foes such as Iran or Syria.

French President Francois Hollande, meanwhile, said Sharon had been "a major player" in his country's history, adding he had "made the choice of turning towards dialogue with the Palestinians".