The funeral of assassinated Democratic Republic of Congo president Laurent Kabila began in Kinshasa today at the People's Palace, where his body lay in state.
After the ecumenical service, which began at around 11:30 a.m. (Irish time) and was expected to last two hours, a cortege was due to take the body to the Palace of the Nation, on the majestic Congo River, to be laid to rest in a hurriedly built mausoleum there.
The heads of state of Angola, Malawi, Namibia, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe were attending the funeral as hundreds of thousands of mourners filled the streets.
Deputy President Jacob Zuma represented South Africa, Foreign Minister Louis Michel represented Belgium, the former colonial power, and numerous ministers were present from other countries.
Kabila was fatally shot a week ago by a bodyguard who was then shot dead by his colleagues.
The government announced that the president died last Thursday in Harare after having been rushed to the Zimbabwe capital for treatment.
His 32-year-old son, General Joseph Kabila, is now in charge in Kinshasa while rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda control the eastern half of the vast central African country.
The general appeared solemn as he greeted his fellow heads of state, who sat beside him.
AFP