Wailing in grief and shaking green leaves in a traditional symbol of mourning, vast crowds of Sudanese paid last respects today to former rebel leader John Garang who helped forge peace in Africa's largest nation.
In chaotic and emotional scenes, tens of thousands crowded the streets of Juba, capital of southern Sudan, as Garang's body was paraded slowly to the small Old Saints Cathedral.
Banners honouring Garang - who died in a helicopter crash last weekend just three weeks after being sworn in as Sudan's vice-president - fluttered throughout the town.
Garang's death has stunned Africa, devastated his followers in the south of Sudan, triggered riots this week that left at least 130 dead, and fuelled fears the January accord to end 21 years of north-south civil war may unravel.
After being flown round the vast southern region of bush and mountains so locals could pay homage, Garang's corpse was taken from the town of Rumbek to Juba for formal burial.
In a deliberate show of north-south unity, former fighters from Garang's Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) joined Sudanese army pallbearers to carry his coffin.
Garang's old enemy then partner in the peace deal, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, stood in line to receive the coffin off a plane with South African President Thabo Mbeki and UN envoy Jan Pronk. A band played Auld Lang Syne.
During the procession to church, SPLA fighters and Sudanese government security forces lined the streets.
The majority of this week's rioting between the mainly Arab northerners and the animist or Christian southerners was in the capital Khartoum, in the north. But some also died in Juba.
The Ugandan presidential helicopter Garang was travelling in went down in bad weather in mountainous terrain and his supporters have said they do not suspect foul play. The cause of the crash is still unclear.
Garang's death has raised fears the January accord, which set up a power-sharing government and allowed southerners to vote on independence in six years, may collapse.
Garang's successor Salva Kiir has been quick to promise implementation of the peace accord. Khartoum confirmed today that Mr Kiir would be sworn in to replace Garang as first vice president in the next two days.