Aaliyah tributes flood in

Fans wrote tributes to Aaliyah on an album poster

Tributes to the soul singer Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash at the weekend, have been pouring in to BBC News Online.

Nearly 6,000 people have e-mailed the site expressing shock and sorrow at Aaliyah's sudden death on Saturday.

Aaliyah died when the twin-engine Cessna she and her entourage were travelling in crashed after taking off from Marsh Harbour airport in the Bahamas.

A premature death is always a sad event, but for us to lose such a talented performer is a true tragedy

Thomas Carlsson, Finland

Messages of regret from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Africa, the US, the UK and Finland, illustrate the 22-year-old singer's growing international fanbase.

Thomas Carlsson in Finland said: "Aaliyah's death is a devastating loss. As a singer, her voice was excellent.

"A premature death is always a sad event, but for us to lose such a talented performer is a true tragedy."

Inspiration

Other contributors explained how Aaliyah had been a source of inspiration on a personal level and not just as music fans.

I was only 16 and Aaliyah's music brought me from my shell

Melanie, UK

Jamika in the USA said: "I named my daughter after her because she had so much going for her."

Melanie in the UK showed how the singer represented someone to whom all ages could relate.

"At your best you are loved and will be very missed. I was only 16 and Aaliyah's music brought me from my shell," said Melanie.

Kindness

Many others told how they had been impressed by her naturalness and warmth.

Norikazu Nakaya in Japan said: "I saw her when she visited Osaka, Japan in 1996.

Whether she was tired or just not in the mood she always had time for her fans and to sign autographs or even take a picture

Starr L Maldondo, US

"The pictures I took on the day and signed CD are some of my biggest treasures."

And Starr L Maldondo in the US said: "There was nothing snobby about her.

"Whether she was tired or just not in the mood she always had time for her fans and to sign autographs or even take a picture.

"She will be sadly missed by me."