UN honored Ali’s lifelong commitment to peace and rights (The Associated Press)

Nearly 20 years later, Ali returned to U.N. headquarters to be named one of the first U.N. Messengers of Peace, an honor reserved for distinguished people from the arts, music, literature and sports who agree to focus world attention on the work of the United Nations. ”It was so powerful,” Annan said in a phone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press from Geneva.