First black politician to hold Secretary of State position

The former US secretary of state  Colin Powell has died following complications from Covid-19.

He was 84 - and was also fully vaccinated. Mr Powell had been suffering for many years with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.

The Republican became the first black politician to hold the foreign policy position and he was also an army general.

Mr Powell played a key role in the response to the 9/11 terror attacks - and in making a case for the Iraq war.

Reaction to the news

In a statement, his family said “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father and grandfather and a great American,”

World leaders have been paying tribute

Below is a special report from NBC News in the wake of Colin Powell's death

Early life of Colin Powell

Powell was born in New York City in 1937, and grew up in The Bronx. His Jamaican parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States. He was educated in the New York City public schools and graduated from City College of New York with a degree in Geology.

Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years. He held many command and staff positions and rose to the rank of four-star general. He was Commander of the US Army Forces Command in 1989.

Vietnam War

Powell said in his autobiography My American Journey that he is haunted by the nightmare of the Vietnam War. Powell felt the leadership at the time was in effective.

Captain Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a South Vietnamese Army advisor from 1962 to 1963. He returned to the country as a Major in 1968, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff for the 23rd American Infantry Division.