ATHENS

MIkis Theodorakis, a well-known Greek composer and political activist, died on Thursday, the Ministry of Culture confirmed. He was 96.

In a condolence message, Minister Lina Mendoni said "today we lost a part of the soul of Greece."

"Mikis was global and his work belongs to the whole world ... touched and will continue to touch millions of hearts ... Greeks mourn today," she said.

Theodorakis composed different kinds of music, ranging from operas to symphonic and chamber music based on Western European forms and modern techniques.

Most of his songs were based on Greek poems, which were also performed by popular artists and bands around the world including the Beatles, Edith Piaf and Shirley Bassey.....