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President orders national flag to be flown at half-mast following death of Iran's President Dr Ebrahim Raisi

Malika Shahid
20 May 2024, MVT 15:16
[FILES] This handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi shows him addressing and giving the annual address to the nation for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Tehran on March 20, 2024. Iranian media declared President Ebrahim Raisi dead on May 20, 2024 after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous northwestern region, but there has not yet been any official confirmation. -- Photo: Iranian Presidency / AFP
Malika Shahid
20 May 2024, MVT 15:16

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced today, that the Maldives national flag would be flown at half-mast for three days in mourning for Iran's late President, Dr Ebrahim Raisi.

The helicopter in which Raisi was traveling crashed on his way back from an official visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran's northwest to inaugurate a dam project.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullah Hain, governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province Malik Rahmati, an imam in the city of Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem were killed alongside Raisi.

The pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and bodyguard were also killed in the crash.

President's Office said that the national flag would be flown at half-mast from Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Rescue teams were able to reach the helicopter more than 15 hours after the crash. Rescue crews said they had located the destroyed aircraft with nine people on board.

Following Raisi's death, Iran's first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, is expected assume the presidency temporarily. The Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president take over "in the event of the president's death, dismissal, resignation, absence or illness for more than two months".

Presidential elections to pick a permanent successor are to be held within 50 days, according to the constitution.

World leaders have expressed their condolences over the death of Raisi.

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