British former UN leader Sir Brian Urquhart dies

Sir Brian Urquhart, former under secretary-general of the United Nations, left, and former US president Jimmy Carter confer during a Middle East conference in Atlanta (Linda Schaefer/AP)

British diplomat Sir Brian Urquhart, an early leader of the United Nations who played a central role in developing the UN practice of peacekeeping, has died, according to his family. He was 101.

Sir Brian’s son Thomas confirmed he died at his home in Tyringham, Massachusetts, on Saturday but did not provide a specific cause, the New York Times reported.