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| Thousands mourn Kennedy in Boston | Thousands mourn Kennedy in Boston |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Preparations are under way for the private burial of Edward Kennedy after the two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library ended. | Preparations are under way for the private burial of Edward Kennedy after the two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library ended. |
| Some 50,000 people paid their respects before the flag-draped coffin of the long-serving US senator, who died on Tuesday of brain cancer. | Some 50,000 people paid their respects before the flag-draped coffin of the long-serving US senator, who died on Tuesday of brain cancer. |
| A wake is now being held for family and close friends, described as a "celebration of life". | |
| President Barack Obama is to deliver a eulogy at his funeral Mass on Saturday. | President Barack Obama is to deliver a eulogy at his funeral Mass on Saturday. |
| He will be then be buried at the Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers, former president John and Robert. | He will be then be buried at the Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers, former president John and Robert. |
| Three days of ceremonies to commemorate Mr Kennedy began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. | Three days of ceremonies to commemorate Mr Kennedy began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. |
| Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies | Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies |
| His body was then driven in a long procession to Boston along roads lined with thousands of mourners - some waving American flags, others holding up signs that read "Thank you Teddy". | His body was then driven in a long procession to Boston along roads lined with thousands of mourners - some waving American flags, others holding up signs that read "Thank you Teddy". |
| Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki and other members of the family shook hands with the mourners. | Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki and other members of the family shook hands with the mourners. |
| "We just wanted to pay our respects and say thanks for all he has done," Trisha McLaughlin said. | "We just wanted to pay our respects and say thanks for all he has done," Trisha McLaughlin said. |
| 'Extraordinary good' | 'Extraordinary good' |
| After the public paid their respects in Boston, a private memorial service began at the JFK library on Friday evening. | |
| Bobby Kennedy Jnr: Edward Kennedy believed that "every individual counted" | Bobby Kennedy Jnr: Edward Kennedy believed that "every individual counted" |
| Scheduled speakers include Vice-President Joe Biden; Senators John McCain, Orrin Hatch, John Kerry and Christopher Dodd; and niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F Kennedy. | |
| The event is also featuring musical performances and tributes from colleagues. | |
| President Barack Obama is expected to address a funeral Mass for Mr Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston on Saturday, before his burial that evening. | President Barack Obama is expected to address a funeral Mass for Mr Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston on Saturday, before his burial that evening. |
| 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. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote in the Boston Globe newspaper that Mr Kennedy "is rightly mourned as one of America's greatest advocates of social justice... as a great internationalist who inspired social progress in every country." | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote in the Boston Globe newspaper that Mr Kennedy "is rightly mourned as one of America's greatest advocates of social justice... as a great internationalist who inspired social progress in every country." |
| 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". |
| But others have noted that his legacy of public service was counter-balanced by heavy drinking in his early years - and the death of a female companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, in 1969 when he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts and fled the scene. | But others have noted that his legacy of public service was counter-balanced by heavy drinking in his early years - and the death of a female companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, in 1969 when he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts and fled the scene. |