Obama's Afghan envoy Holbrooke dies aged 69

Mr Holbrooke, whose forceful style earned him nicknames such as The Bulldozer or Raging Bull, was admitted to George Washington University Hospital on Friday after he became ill. He had surgery on Saturday to repair a torn aorta but passed away on Monday.

"He is simply one of the giants of American foreign policy," the US president said during a reception at the State Department. Mr Obama praised the veteran diplomat as "a truly unique figure who will be remembered for his tireless diplomacy, love of country, and pursuit of peace".

Mr Holbrooke served under every Democratic president from John F Kennedy to Mr Obama in a lengthy career that began with a foreign service posting in Vietnam in 1962 after graduating from Brown University. He was a member of the US delegation to the Paris peace talks on Vietnam.

His sizeable ego, tenacity and willingness to push hard for diplomatic results won him both admiration and animosity.

"If Richard calls you and asks you for something, just say 'yes'," former secretary of state Henry Kissinger once said. "If you say no, you'll eventually get to yes, but the journey will be very painful."

After spells in journalism and banking her returned to public service under Bill Clinton. One of his signature achievements was brokering the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia.