In this file photo taken on Aug 8, 1988, then UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar announces that a ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq war will begin on Aug 20, during a special session of the UN Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York. (MARK CARDWELL / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS - Former UN chief Javier Perez de Cuellar died Wednesday in Lima, the capital of his native country Peru, his son told local media.

Perez de Cuellar served as UN secretary-general from 1982 to 1991, leading the world body during the Iran-Iraq war.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday night expressed sorrow at Perez de Cuellar's death.

Javier Perez de Cuellar served as UN secretary-general from 1982 to 1991, leading the world body during the Iran-Iraq war

"I am profoundly saddened at the passing of my predecessor, Javier Perez de Cuellar," Guterres said in a statement, praising him to be an "accomplished statesman, a committed diplomat and a personal inspiration."

"Mr. Perez de Cuellar's life spanned not only a century but also the entire history of the United Nations, dating back to his participation in the first meeting of the General Assembly in 1946," said Guterres.

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Perez de Cuellar "played a crucial role in a number of diplomatic successes", including the independence of Namibia, an end to the Iran-Iraq War, the release of American hostages held in Lebanon, the peace accord in Cambodia and, in his very last days in office, a historic peace agreement in El Salvador, Guterres recalled. 

In January, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent greetings to Perez de Cuellar for his 100th birthday.