Many heads of state and government, and leaders of foreign political parties have sent condolences to Vietnam over the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Many heads of state and government, and leaders of foreign political parties have sent condolences to Viet Nam over the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

In a message to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni described Giap as a leader with many contributions to national liberation, defence, construction and development.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika extended condolences to President Truong Tan Sang, emphasising that Giap's name will remain in the Algerian people's memory. "This is a great loss not only to Vietnamese, but also for Algerians," the President said in his message.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida Fumio said General Giap's death leaves him a deep sorrow, and praised the deceased as an outstanding leader who devoted the whole of his life to the national development of Vietnam.

Fuwa Tetsuzo, member of the presidium of the central committee of the Communist Party of Japan and its former head, recalled his first meeting with General Giap in February 1966 which, he said, was a new starting point of the combatant solidarity between the two parties.

The Portuguese Communist Party said Giap had made great contributions to the cause of the working people and nations throughout the world,adding that his contributions to the rights of nations and for peace and socialism would never be forgotten.

Head of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Mujahidul Islam Selim said General Giap is a great encouragement to not only the Vietnamese people but also all the current revolutionary movements in the world.

President of the India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee Geetesh Sharma praised the deceased as a man very close to and highly respected by the Indian people, and recalled his meeting with General Giap during his two visits to Calcutta.

In Cuban veteran journalist Marta Rojas's eyes, General Giap is both a brilliant military strategist and a modest, simple, kind-hearted and humane man.

The journalist, who came to Vietnam many times to report on the American war, said she was saddened by the death of the General and felt she had lost a relative.

Meanwhile, Chia Teck Keng, Vice President of the Singapore Veteran Association, expressed his respect to the deceased, calling him an iconic general for all military strategists.

The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) Party of El Salvador has sent condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people over the death of General Giap.

The party expressed its belief that the Vietnamese Government and people will continue to follow the example of the deceased.

Schedule set for General Giap farewells

The committee for General Vo Nguyen Giap's national funeral yesterday outlined the schedule for delegations to pay their last respects at the National Funeral Hall this Saturday.

The hall will open between 7:30-9am for mourners, with representatives expected to follow from the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and General Giap's relatives, as well as current and former high-ranking Party and State leaders.

Delegations of foreign leaders, the Hanoi municipal Party Committee, Hanoi People's Council, Hanoi People's Committee, Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee, the ministries of Defence and Public Security, international organisations and diplomatic corps, plus the Vietnam War Veterans' Association will also take turns to pay tribute to General Giap before midday.

From 12-2pm, delegates from cities and provinces will say farewells, with ministries, central agencies and branches following suit from 2-3pm.

Additional parties and individuals will get the chance to honour the General from 3-9pm.

Mourners can also hold vigils for the General at the provincial People's Committee headquarters in General Giap's home province of Quang Binh and the Reunification Palace in HCM City at the same time as those in Hanoi.