Sydney, August 26: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd led international tributes to US politician Ted Kennedy today, calling him a “great American” following his death from brain cancer.
“Ted Kennedy was a great American, a great Democrat and also a great friend of Australia,” Rudd said.
“He has made an extraordinary contribution to American politics, an extraordinary contribution to America’s role in the world.”
Kennedy, the youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy and venerated as the US Senate’s “liberal lion”, died aged 77 at his home in Massachusetts late yesterday.
“When you look at Ted Kennedy’s legislative career, more than 40 years, when you look at the content of that legislative career, spanning the whole breath of public policy — health policy, social policy, foreign policy — this has been a unique political career,” Rudd said.
“Ted Kennedy will be sadly missed in America, he will be sadly missed around the world, including Australia.”
–Agencies