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| US prepares for Kennedy funeral | US prepares for Kennedy funeral |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Preparations are under way in Boston for the funeral of long-serving US Senator Edward Kennedy. | Preparations are under way in Boston for the funeral of long-serving US Senator Edward Kennedy. |
| President Barack Obama is to deliver a eulogy at the funeral Mass in Boston's Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. | President Barack Obama is to deliver a eulogy at the funeral Mass in Boston's Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. |
| Mr Kennedy, who died of brain cancer on Tuesday, will then be buried in Washington near his slain brothers, former President John, and Robert. | Mr Kennedy, who died of brain cancer on Tuesday, will then be buried in Washington near his slain brothers, former President John, and Robert. |
| An Irish wake-style memorial service was held late on Friday for family and friends of Mr Kennedy, who was 77. | An Irish wake-style memorial service was held late on Friday for family and friends of Mr Kennedy, who was 77. |
| In keeping with the Kennedy family's Irish heritage, the service featured laughter and music, as well as tributes to the senator, who had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties. | In keeping with the Kennedy family's Irish heritage, the service featured laughter and music, as well as tributes to the senator, who had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties. |
| Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies | Death leaves no clear heir In pictures: Kennedy ceremonies |
| "Now Teddy has become a part of history, and we are the ones who will have to do all the things he would have done, for us, for each other and for our country," said his niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John. | "Now Teddy has become a part of history, and we are the ones who will have to do all the things he would have done, for us, for each other and for our country," said his niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John. |
| Earlier, some 50,000 people paid their respects before the Massachusetts senator's flag-draped coffin during a two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library. | Earlier, some 50,000 people paid their respects before the Massachusetts senator's flag-draped coffin during a two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library. |
| Political mourners | Political mourners |
| Among the 1,500 guests invited to Saturday's Roman Catholic Mass are former Presidents George HW Bush, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as some 80 serving and former senators. | Among the 1,500 guests invited to Saturday's Roman Catholic Mass are former Presidents George HW Bush, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as some 80 serving and former senators. |
| Among the international dignitaries attending the service is Sarah Brown, wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | |
| KENNEDY FUNERAL PLANS (PROVISIONAL TIMES IN GMT) 1430: Funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica1730: Coffin departs Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusets1900: Coffin arrives at Andrews Air Force Base2000: Funeral motorcade proceeds to US Capitol2130: Burial service in Arlington National Cemetery | |
| While White House aides would not reveal the content of the US president's eulogy, Mr Obama was expected to focus on Mr Kennedy's 47-year political career. | While White House aides would not reveal the content of the US president's eulogy, Mr Obama was expected to focus on Mr Kennedy's 47-year political career. |
| The senator's funeral is to be concelebrated by some seven priests. | The senator's funeral is to be concelebrated by some seven priests. |
| Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the Archbishop of Boston one of the most senior members of the US Catholic Church, is expected to lead the final prayers of commendation. | Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the Archbishop of Boston one of the most senior members of the US Catholic Church, is expected to lead the final prayers of commendation. |
| Mr Kennedy's coffin will be attended by some 11 pallbearers and 29 honorary pallbearers, reports said. | Mr Kennedy's coffin will be attended by some 11 pallbearers and 29 honorary pallbearers, reports said. |
| Famed tenor Placido Domingo has been invited to sing at the service, accompanied by the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra will also be performing. | Famed tenor Placido Domingo has been invited to sing at the service, accompanied by the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra will also be performing. |
| After the funeral, Mr Kennedy's body is to be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, before being driven past the US Capitol and along the National Mall for his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. | After the funeral, Mr Kennedy's body is to be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, before being driven past the US Capitol and along the National Mall for his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. |
| 'Thank you Teddy' | 'Thank you Teddy' |
| Three days of ceremonies to commemorate the senator's life began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. | Three days of ceremonies to commemorate the senator's life began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. |
| John McCain: 'He took the long view, he never gave up' | John McCain: 'He took the long view, he never gave up' |
| 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". |
| After the public paid their respects in Boston, a three-hour memorial service described as a "celebration of life" began at the JFK library on Friday evening. | After the public paid their respects in Boston, a three-hour memorial service described as a "celebration of life" began at the JFK library on Friday evening. |
| In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. | In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era, 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. |