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| Mourners bid farewell to Kennedy | Mourners bid farewell to Kennedy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Crowds have gathered in Boston to pay their respects to Edward Kennedy on the first of three days of ceremonies to commemorate the US senator. | Crowds have gathered in Boston to pay their respects to Edward Kennedy on the first of three days of ceremonies to commemorate the US senator. |
| Mourning began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family compound in Massachusetts. | Mourning began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family compound in Massachusetts. |
| Mr Kennedy's body was then driven to Boston, where his coffin was put on public view. | |
| Mr Kennedy's death on Tuesday prompted a flood of tributes from across the US and around the world. | Mr Kennedy's death on Tuesday prompted a flood of tributes from across 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. | A large group of family members attended Thursday's private Mass at the family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. |
| Later, thousands of people lined the route as a hearse carrying Mr Kennedy's coffin left in a motorcade on the 70-mile (113km) trip to Boston. | Later, thousands of 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' |
| There, the hearse wound through the streets of the city past some of Senator Kennedy's favourite landmarks, before delivering his coffin to the John F Kennedy presidential library and museum. | There, the hearse wound through the streets of the city past some of Senator Kennedy's favourite landmarks, before delivering his coffin to the John F Kennedy presidential library and museum. |
| Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies | Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies |
| As the motorcade passed through Boston, people applauded solemnly as helicopters buzzed overhead. | As the motorcade passed through Boston, people applauded solemnly as helicopters buzzed overhead. |
| Mourners were allowed into the JFK building, about 35-40 at a time, to file past the closed coffin placed before a large window overlooking the ocean. | |
| Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki and other members of the family shook hands with the mourners. | |
| Earlier, in Hyannis Port, the mood was sombre. | Earlier, in Hyannis Port, the mood was sombre. |
| "It was very moving when the hearse came by - it was observed in total silence," said John Celentano, a 62-year-old business consultant. | "It was very moving when the hearse came by - it was observed in total silence," said John Celentano, a 62-year-old business consultant. |
| "You felt you were part of history." | "You felt you were part of history." |
| After the public have paid their respects in Boston, there will be an invitation-only memorial service at the JFK library on Friday evening. | After the public have paid their respects in Boston, there will be an invitation-only memorial service at the JFK 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. |
| Succession talks | Succession talks |
| 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 coffin was draped in the US flag | |
| 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". |
| 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. |