By Michelle Nichols
United Nations (Reuters) – Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, a blunt-spoken Egyptian who led the world body through global turmoil as it defined its peacekeeping role and lost his job over disputes with Washington, died on Tuesday. He was 93.
![U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is surrounded by members of the media as he leaves the White House after meeting U.S. President Bill Clinton, in this February 23, 1993 file picture. REUTERS/Stringer/Files](https://i0.wp.com/www.khmerkromngo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Boutros-Boutros-Ghali.jpg?resize=450%2C347)
U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is surrounded by members of the media as he leaves the White House after meeting U.S. President Bill Clinton, in this February 23, 1993 file picture. REUTERS/Stringer/Files
Boutros-Ghali headed the United Nations from 1992-1996, chaotic years marked by war in the former Yugoslavia and famine and genocide in Africa. He died at Al Salam Hospital in Cairo on Tuesday, a hospital official said. Egypt’s state news agency MENA said he had a broken leg and heart and kidney problems.
The 15-member U.N. Security Council observed a minute’s silence after his death was announced.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement praising Boutros-Ghali for leading the organization through “one of the most tumultuous and challenging periods in its history.”