Obama says Shimon Peres reminded him of Nelson Mandela

The 93-year-old died in his sleep in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Confirming his passing - his son-in-law Rafi Walden said he had been surrounded by family members. 

Peres is the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize recipient awarded jointly with prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for his role in negotiating the Oslo Accords which envisioned an independent Palestinian state.

Speaking at the funeral for the former Israeli president and prime minister attended by world leaders, Obama said the peacemaker and activist also valued his family. 

 "Shimon once said that the message of the Jewish people to mankind is that faith and moral vision can triumph over all adversity," he says.

Comparing him to the likes of Nelson Mandela and Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Obama said: "In many ways, he reminded me of some other giants of the 20th century that I've had the honour to meet." 

Former US president, Bill Clinton also paid his respects.