国际英语新闻:U.S. sends delegation to attend Thatcher's funeral

WASHINGTON, April 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is sending a delegation led by two former secretaries of state to attend the funeral of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the White House said on Monday.

George Shultz and James Baker III will lead the four-member presidential delegation, the White House said in a statement.

Thatcher, known as "Iron Lady" worldwide, died of a stroke on April 8 at the age of 87. She was in office from 1979 to 1990 and was the only female prime minister in Britain. Her funeral is slated for Wednesday.

In his statement mourning her death, Obama called Thatcher "a true friend" of the United States.

Downing Street said that former U.S. presidents and Hillary Clinton, wife of Bill Clinton and the secretary of state in Obama's first term, have been invited to the funeral.