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Zapata Tamayo, jailed since 2003 on charges such as disrespect for authority, died Tuesday at a hospital in Havana. In life, he was one of the best known voices of dissent, but the news went around the world for being the first opponent to lose his life in Cuba with a protest of its kind in nearly 40 years.

The U.S. secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed his government”s condolences to family, friends and supporters of Zapata.

“We are deeply saddened by his death during hunger strike (Zapata) made in defense of their rights and to send a message about the situation of political prisoners and oppression in Cuba, “Clinton said during a hearing of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate.

The European Union asked the government of Raul Castro to show more respect for human rights.

“The EC deeply regrets the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata, offering condolences to his family, “he said in Brussels on EU spokesman John Clancy said, adding that human rights” remain a key priority for Europe.

Spain, whose socialist government has been openly in favor of fostering a new relationship with Cuba since assumed the rotating EU presidency in January, expressed dismay at what happened.

“The government of Spain deeply regrets the death of Orlando Zapata, the death of a human rights advocate in Cuba, “said the third vice chairman, Manuel Chaves. “There is a human rights deficit in this country.”

The number two executive, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, said that despite the tragedy, Spain will continue to work there a “democratic transition” in Cuba.

The opposition Popular Party executive Castro blame the death of dissident and demanded that President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to reconsider its relations with Havana. Their leader, Mariano Rajoy, sent a telegram to the mother of Zapata.

“The death of Orlando Zapata is a sign of attachment of the Cuban people for freedom and dignity, and an admirable example of dedication and consistency to the Democrats from around the world, “he wrote.

A group of 15 to 20 Cuban dissidents Cuba Democracy Movement Ya! attempted to place a bouquet of flowers in memory of Zapata in the Cuban embassy in Madrid. Police prevented the protesters from the gates of the embassy.

British Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the “human rights abuses” in the island and demanded the release of all political prisoners.

“We are concerned about prison conditions in Cuba and call on Cuba to allow independent inspections of its prisons,” said the Foreign Office in a statement.

In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero French announced its “dismay” over the death of Zapata and said the executive had claimed their freedom.

The government “deplores the failure to have heard this called a humanitarian gesture,” said Valero.

But the convictions did not come from governments LIMITED TO. In London, Amnesty International called for an investigation to determine whether prison condc48itions were a factor in the death of Cuban dissident.

“The tragic death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo is a terrible example of the desperation faced by prisoners of conscience who have no hope of being freed from their unjust and prolonged imprisonment, “said Gerardo Ducos, Amnesty researcher Caribbean, in a statement.