In Jerusalem, Israel's leaders and people mourned the passing of the popular monarch who touched hearts throughout the country with his efforts not just to make peace but to build friendship between Jews and Arabs.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman said the death of King Hussein has left all Israelis mourning. ``This is a day of mourning for Israel and all its people,'' the spokesman, David Bar-Illan, said. ``The king was the most popular foreign leader in Israel. We will not forget his nobility,'' Bar-Illan said.

Officials today said that both President Ezer Weizman and Netanyahu will represent Israel at Hussein's funeral. Netanyahu's office issued a strongly worded statement assailing as ``lies'' Israeli reports that the Jordanians did not want him to attend tomorrow's funeral because of his hardline stance in the peaceprocess.

In Cairo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's office in a statement declared three days of national mourning.

Reacting to the news, Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi condoled the death of the Jordanian king, saying it was the passing of an era in West Asian history spanning nearly half a century.

Describing the late leader as ``one of the most notable personalities of the 20th century, Gandhi in her condolence message said Hussein ``grew into a symbol of courage not only for the people of his country but for all of Arab nations, indeed, for all of us''.

In Washington, US President Bill Clinton said he was ``deeply saddened'' by the death of King Hussein, and praised his ``rare courage'' in working for peace.

``I had prayed this day would not come soon,'' Clinton said in a statement. ``But God has called King Hussein to his reward.''

British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London said he was ``deeply saddened'' by the death of King Hussein and paid tributes to the monarch's role inthe Middle East peace process.

In Moscow, foreign ministry sources said Russia ``deeply regrets'' the death of King Hussein. Russia ``deeply respected this eminent person. We highly appraised his contribution to the development of our bilateral relations, and his extremely useful role in the Middle East peace process,'' Interfax news agency reported.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Information Minister Mushahid Hussain said ``we are extremely grieved over the demise of a great leader of the world and friend of Pakistan.''