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| Kennedy ceremonies get under way | Kennedy ceremonies get under way |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mourners have held a family Mass to commemorate Edward Kennedy, at the start of three days of ceremonies following the death of the US senator. | Mourners have held a family Mass to commemorate Edward Kennedy, at the start of three days of ceremonies following the death of the US senator. |
| Mr Kennedy's body was then being driven to Boston, where his coffin will be placed for public viewing ahead of a memorial service and a funeral Mass. | Mr Kennedy's body was then being driven to Boston, where his coffin will be placed for public viewing ahead of a memorial service and a funeral Mass. |
| Mr Kennedy's death from cancer on Tuesday prompted a flood of tributes from the US and around the world. | Mr Kennedy's death from cancer on Tuesday prompted a flood of tributes from the US and around the world. |
| He will be buried on Saturday evening at the Arlington National Cemetery. | He will be buried on Saturday evening at the Arlington National Cemetery. |
| A large group of family members attended Thursday's private Mass at the family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. | |
| Later, people lined the route as a hearse carrying Mr Kennedy's coffin left in a motorcade on the 70-mile (113km) trip to Boston. | |
| 'Extraordinary good' | 'Extraordinary good' |
| The motorcade was due to drive past some of the Boston sites linked to the senator's life, before delivering his coffin to the John F Kennedy presidential library and museum. | |
| Death leaves no clear heir | Death leaves no clear heir |
| After the public have paid their respects, there will be an invitation-only memorial service at the library on Friday evening. | After the public have paid their respects, there will be an invitation-only memorial service at the library on Friday evening. |
| On Saturday, President Barack Obama is expected to address a funeral Mass for Mr Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston. | On Saturday, President Barack Obama is expected to address a funeral Mass for Mr Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston. |
| Mr Kennedy will be buried on Saturday next to his brothers, John F Kennedy and Robert F Kennedy, at the Arlington national cemetery in northern Virginia. | Mr Kennedy will be buried on Saturday next to his brothers, John F Kennedy and Robert F Kennedy, at the Arlington national cemetery in northern Virginia. |
| In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era. | In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era. |
| The charismatic senator had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. | The charismatic senator had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. |
| In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". | In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". |
| Succession talks | Succession talks |
| Just outside the family compound in Hyannis Port, David Nylan said people had been leaving flowers by his holiday home since Mr Kennedy's death. | Just outside the family compound in Hyannis Port, David Nylan said people had been leaving flowers by his holiday home since Mr Kennedy's death. |
| "The Kennedys and Hyannis and the Cape, they just kind of go hand in hand," he said. | "The Kennedys and Hyannis and the Cape, they just kind of go hand in hand," he said. |
| "They're just a great family from around here, and people respect what they've done in office, and the good things they've done. | "They're just a great family from around here, and people respect what they've done in office, and the good things they've done. |
| "Of course, they've had some black marks against them, but who hasn't?" | "Of course, they've had some black marks against them, but who hasn't?" |
| Meanwhile, discussions have begun over how to replace Mr Kennedy in the Senate. | Meanwhile, discussions have begun over how to replace Mr Kennedy in the Senate. |
| Under current Massachusetts law, his seat could remain vacant for several months until a special election to choose his successor. | Under current Massachusetts law, his seat could remain vacant for several months until a special election to choose his successor. |
| Senate Democrats fear that if the seat remains empty for too long, the party will struggle to pass a crucial healthcare reform that President Obama is hoping to push through. | Senate Democrats fear that if the seat remains empty for too long, the party will struggle to pass a crucial healthcare reform that President Obama is hoping to push through. |
| There have been calls for a change in the law that would allow the Massachusetts governor to install an interim senator to fill the seat until the special election takes place. | There have been calls for a change in the law that would allow the Massachusetts governor to install an interim senator to fill the seat until the special election takes place. |
| Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has said he supports the plan. | Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has said he supports the plan. |