Britain dismissed former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe as an autocrat who ruined lives of ordinary people in Zimbabwe.
The harsh statement from the former colonialists is the first to be issued following the death of nonagenarian, even as other countries hailed him as a liberation hero.
Mugabe, 95, died in Singapore on Friday after struggling with ill health for decades. He was ousted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2017 after 37 years in charge.
"We express our condolences to those who mourn Robert Mugabe's death. However, Zimbabweans suffered for too long as a result of Mugabe's autocratic role," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
It noted "mixed emotions" in Zimbabwe at the death of Mugabe, adding, "We hope that in this new era, Zimbabwe can continue to be set on a more democratic and prosperous path."
Mugabe was at loggerheads with Britain for several years, as former Prime Minister Tony Blair struggled to contain his fireworks. Zimbabwe was suspended from Commonwealth in 2002.
But a defiant Mugabe quit in 2003. Since his ouster, Harare has applied to join Commonwealth as the country struggles to change economic fortunes.
Despite Britain's harsh message, other world leaders recognized the former president as a true revolutionary, who fought for the rights of Africans.
"We will remember former President Mugabe as a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in even when it was not popular," said Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"Many important dates in Zimbabwe's modern history are tied to the name of Robert Mugabe. He made a great personal contribution to the battle for your country's independence, to the building of Zimbabwean state institutions," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.