STEVE JOBS FOUNDER OF APPLE DIES AT 56

• President Obama leads tributes which flooded the web within minutes of his death being confirmed
• Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg praises his 'mentor and friend'
  
• Family thanks 'the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve's illness'
• 'We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,' Apple's board of directors say in statement
• Had battled pancreatic cancer for eight years
• Death came six weeks after he stepped down as Apple CEO and just one day after the launch of the new generation iPhone