Former and current US presidents lead tributes to George HW Bush
Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore
Former and current US presidents have led the tributes to George HW Bush following his death, aged 94.
Bush Snr, the 41st president of the United States between 1989 and 1993 and a World War II hero, died on Friday night.
His son, George W Bush, described his father as a “man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for”.
Donald Trump declared a period of national mourning and ordered American flags to be flown at half-mast for 30 days to honour a man of "sound judgment, common sense and unflappable leadership."
Mr Bush will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC from Monday until Wednesday.
Bill Clinton, who defeated Bush in his bid for re-election in 1992, said he was always struck by his "innate and genuine decency, and by his devotion to Barbara, his children, and their growing brood".
Bush's wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, died in April.
"Few Americans have been - or will ever be - able to match President Bush’s record of service to the United States and the joy he took every day from it," Mr Clinton said. "I am profoundly grateful for every minute I spent with President Bush and will always hold our friendship as one of my life’s greatest gifts."
Barack Obama said America had “lost a patriot and humble servant”.
The Queen said President Bush had been "a great friend and ally of the United Kingdom" who served his country "with honour and distinction".
Bush Snr, the son of a senator, rose through the political ranks from congressman to UN ambassador, Republican Party chairman to envoy to China, CIA director to two-term vice president under Ronald Reagan.
Replacing Reagan in the Oval Office, his presidency was largely dominated by foreign affairs.
After Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Mr Bush quickly began building an international military coalition that included other Arab states. Once he had won Nations support and got a green light from a reluctant Congress, he unleashed a punishing air war against Iraq and a five-day ground juggernaut that sent Iraqi forces reeling in disarray back to Baghdad.
But he stopped short of toppling the Iraqi dictator and it was during the presidency of his son, George W Bush, that Saddam's rule would eventually end.
After the war he basked in the biggest outpouring of patriotism and pride in America’s military since World War II, and his approval ratings soared to nearly 90%.
Under his watch, the Berlin Wall came down, the Warsaw Pact disintegrated and the Soviet satellites fell out of orbit.
But his domestic agenda was less successful and his pledge in 1989, "Read my lips: no new taxes", came back to haunt him as he was forced to break his promise and he lost his bid for re-election to Bill Clinton in 1992.
Eight years later watched his son George W became the 43rd president – only the second father-and-son chief executives, following John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
In a statement on behalf of the Bush family, George W said: “Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died."
"The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens."
Mr and Mrs Trump said Mr Bush had "inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service" and praised his “sound judgment, common sense and unflappable leadership”.
Mr Trump has not always been so kind to Mr Bush or his family. He was sharply critical of the two-term presidency of George W Bush and continued criticism of the Bushes from the West Wing.
At the G20 in Argentina, he refused to answer whether he had any regrets over his past criticism of the Bushes but did say that Mr Bush's death "really puts a damper" on his participation at the summit.
Paying tribute to President Bush, Barack Obama said: “While our hearts are heavy today, they are also filled with gratitude.
“George HW Bush’s life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling. And he did tremendous good along the journey… It’s a legacy of service that may never be matched, even though he’d want all of us to try.”
Sir John Major, who was British prime minister during Mr Bush's presidential term, led tributes on this side of the Atlantic, saying he served with "compassion, courage, dignity and grace."
" As president, he saw America's obligation to the world and honoured it - and he remained committed to public service until the day he died.
"I feel privileged to have worked with him, and even more privileged that he became a lifelong friend. He was, quite simply, one of the most deep down decent people I have ever known."