Singapore mourns founding PM Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore is in mourning after the death of the country's founding prime minister at the age of 91.

Lee Kuan Yew is credited with overseeing Singapore's transformation from a tropical island outpost to an affluent, global city after becoming the country's first leader following its separation from Malaysia in 1965.

Lee who was known for a stern approach to crime and a supporter of caning for many offences and the death penalty for murder and drug trafficking, said during his life that it was "irrelevant to me what young Singaporeans think of me."

He said. "I've lived long enough to know that you may be idealised in life and reviled after you're dead."

A co-founder of Singapore's People's Action Party the Cambridge-educated lawyer held the role of Prime Minister for six years before his country gained independence in 1965 and then another 25 years after. He finally stepped down from his role as Prime Minister in 1990.