He died at a Cairo hospital on Tuesday, Egypt's state news agency said, after being admitted with a broken pelvis.

He took office in 1992 at a time of growing influence for the UN following its decisive role in the Gulf War, serving one five-year term.

However, he faced criticism for the UN's failure to stop the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Washington was angered by his opposition to NATO's bombing campaign in Bosnia.

The 15-member Security Council observed a minute's silence after the announcement of Mr Boutros-Ghali's death, which was made at the start of a session on Yemen's humanitarian crisis.

No further details on his death were immediately available.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali was the first Arab to serve as UN Secretary Genera and also the first to serve only one term in the post.