Leaders gather for funeral of Austrian president

Leaders and royals from across Europe were among thousands bidding a final farewell today to Austrian president Dr Thomas Klestil…

Leaders and royals from across Europe were among thousands bidding a final farewell today to Austrian president Dr Thomas Klestil.

The state funeral to bury Dr Klestil, who died earlier this week, just two days before his term was to end, concluded four days of national mourning.

About 20,000 filed past the casket at the presidential offices in the imperial Hofburg Palace as Dr Klestil lay in state for three days.

Dr Klestil died of multiple organ failure late on Tuesday, a day after he was airlifted to a Vienna hospital following heart failure. He was 71.

READ MORE

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, who conducted the requiem Mass in St. Stephen's Cathedral, described Mr Klestil as "a deeply committed European."

Russian president Mr Vladimir Putin arrived 20 minutes after the Mass began. He was set to meet with Dr Klestil's successor, Mr Heinz Fischer, after the service ended before returning home.

The Mass was attended by President McAleese, representing Ireland, as well as presidents from Germany, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Royal guests included Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and the crown princes of the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Norway. Princess Anne represented Britain.

Up to 4,000 members of the public were allowed inside the cathedral, where they stood at the back.

After the Mass, the casket was to be driven in a slow procession through the heart of Vienna before heading to the Central Cemetery in the south-eastern part of the city.

Dr Klestil will be buried in a presidential grave created in 1951 following the death of president Karl Renner.