UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon mourned on Monday the death of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin.

    In a brief statement released by his spokesperson, Ban said he was saddened to learn of the death of Boris Yeltsin, and extended his heartfelt condolences to Yeltsin's family and to the people and government of Russia.

    "President Yeltsin will be remembered for the critical role he played in advancing political and economic reforms in Russia, as well as in fostering rapprochement between East and West," he said.

    According to reports, Yeltsin, 76, died of heart failure. He resigned as Russian president at the end of 1999, several months before his term of office expired -- after a long history of severe heart problems.