WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed sadness at the death of former Philippine president Corazon Aquino on Friday, hailing her as an inspiration who helped restore democracy to her country.

"I extend my deepest condolences to the Aquino family and all the people of the Philippines on the death of former president Corazon Aquino," Clinton said in a statement.

"Cory Aquino was beloved by her nation and admired by the world for her extraordinary courage after the assassination of her husband, and later, during her service as president.

"She helped bring democracy back to the Philippines after many years of authoritarian rule with a faith in her country and its people that never wavered."

Clinton, a onetime first lady who narrowly lost a bid last year to become her Democratic Party's nomination for president, said Aquino served as an inspiration to her and her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

The country's current president, Gloria Arroyo, was in the United States on an official trip at the time of Aquino's death, having been hosted by President Barack Obama hours before.

Manila is a longstanding Washington ally in Southeast Asia, and Arroyo was the region's first leader to visit the White House since Obama's January inauguration.

--AFP