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Yeltsin to lie in state in Moscow Hundreds gather to mourn Yeltsin
(about 2 hours later)
The body of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is to lie in state in Moscow ahead of a funeral on Wednesday. Hundreds of people have gathered to pay their respects at a Moscow church where the body of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is lying in state.
His body will be viewed in the Church of Christ the Saviour, a cathedral rebuilt during his presidency and a symbol of the post-communist era. Mr Yeltsin's body will remain on public view at the gold-domed Christ the Saviour Cathedral until his state funeral and burial on Wednesday.
Mr Yeltsin, who had a history of heart trouble, died of heart failure on Monday in a city hospital, aged 76. The former leader died from heart failure on Monday, aged 76.
Current President Vladimir Putin led tributes, saying that under Mr Yeltsin Russia had entered a "whole new epoch".Current President Vladimir Putin led tributes, saying that under Mr Yeltsin Russia had entered a "whole new epoch".
His predecessor had bequeathed a state in which "power truly belongs to the people", Mr Putin said. His predecessor, who played a key role in the collapse of Communist Russia, had bequeathed a state in which "power truly belongs to the people", Mr Putin said.
Day of mourning Orthodox funeral
Mr Yeltsin is expected to lie in state in the Church of Christ the Saviour, Russia's largest cathedral, destroyed in 1931 under Communism and rebuilt in the late 1990s during his rule. Mr Yeltsin's body was brought to Russia's largest cathedral in a black limousine, and greeted by a guard of honour.
Russians give their views on Yeltsin and his legacyIn pictures Russians give their views on Yeltsin and his legacyIn pictures The cathedral was destroyed in 1931 under Joseph Stalin and rebuilt in the late 1990s during Mr Yeltsin's rule.
Correspondents say people are already starting to gather outside the cathedral. Members of the public queued to pay their respects ahead of the funeral service, which will be broadcast live on national television.
Members of the public will be able to pay their respects from 1630 local time (1230 GMT), ahead of a funeral service at 1400 on Wednesday. Three Russian Orthodox Church bishops will officiate at what will be the first funeral for a head of state sanctioned by the Church since Tsar Alexander III's in 1894.
Three Russian Orthodox Church bishops will lead the service, the first funeral for a head of state sanctioned by the Church since Tsar Alexander III's in 1894.
Former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr are expected to be among foreign leaders attending, according to Russian media reports.Former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr are expected to be among foreign leaders attending, according to Russian media reports.
The funeral will be broadcast live on national TV.
YELTSIN KEY DATES July 1990: Resigns from Communist PartyJune 1991: Elected president of Russian republic (in USSR)August 1991: Rallies citizens against anti-Gorbachev coup, bans Russian communist partyDecember 1991: Takes over from Mikhail Gorbachev as head of state1992: Lifts price controls, launches privatisationOctober 1993: Russia on brink of civil war, Yeltsin orders tanks to fire at parliamentDecember 1994: Sends tanks into ChechnyaJune 1996: Re-elected as Russian president, suffers heart attack during campaign1998: Financial crisis, rouble loses 75% of its valueDecember 1999: Resigns, appoints Vladimir Putin successor Mixed verdict on Yeltsin Obituary of Yeltsin In quotes: Reaction to deathYELTSIN KEY DATES July 1990: Resigns from Communist PartyJune 1991: Elected president of Russian republic (in USSR)August 1991: Rallies citizens against anti-Gorbachev coup, bans Russian communist partyDecember 1991: Takes over from Mikhail Gorbachev as head of state1992: Lifts price controls, launches privatisationOctober 1993: Russia on brink of civil war, Yeltsin orders tanks to fire at parliamentDecember 1994: Sends tanks into ChechnyaJune 1996: Re-elected as Russian president, suffers heart attack during campaign1998: Financial crisis, rouble loses 75% of its valueDecember 1999: Resigns, appoints Vladimir Putin successor Mixed verdict on Yeltsin Obituary of Yeltsin In quotes: Reaction to death
Wednesday has also been declared a national day of mourning.Wednesday has also been declared a national day of mourning.
Mr Yeltsin's body will then be moved to the city's Novodevichye Cemetery, the resting-place of many other eminent Russians.Mr Yeltsin's body will then be moved to the city's Novodevichye Cemetery, the resting-place of many other eminent Russians.
He will be buried close to Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of his great rival and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.He will be buried close to Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of his great rival and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
The only Soviet leader to be buried in the cemetery is Stalin's successor Nikita Khrushchev, who was ousted in 1964 and died in obscurity. Other Communist Party leaders are buried in Red Square by the Kremlin wall.The only Soviet leader to be buried in the cemetery is Stalin's successor Nikita Khrushchev, who was ousted in 1964 and died in obscurity. Other Communist Party leaders are buried in Red Square by the Kremlin wall.
The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says the current administration has given no reason for its choice of funeral arrangements, but each decision is bound to be carefully analysed for what it might say about contemporary Russian politics and the country's modern history.The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says the current administration has given no reason for its choice of funeral arrangements, but each decision is bound to be carefully analysed for what it might say about contemporary Russian politics and the country's modern history.
Mr Putin postponed his annual speech to a joint session of parliament, due to be delivered on Wednesday, until Thursday.Mr Putin postponed his annual speech to a joint session of parliament, due to be delivered on Wednesday, until Thursday.
Mr Yeltsin's death was announced by the Kremlin, the seat of power which he fell out with, then later occupied as Russia's first post-Soviet head of state.Mr Yeltsin's death was announced by the Kremlin, the seat of power which he fell out with, then later occupied as Russia's first post-Soviet head of state.
He developed a viral infection after a sightseeing trip to Jordan at the beginning of April, an unconfirmed report on the gazeta.ru website said.He developed a viral infection after a sightseeing trip to Jordan at the beginning of April, an unconfirmed report on the gazeta.ru website said.
Twelve days before his death, he was admitted to Moscow's central clinical hospital where he suffered cardiovascular and multi-organ failure, medical officials said.Twelve days before his death, he was admitted to Moscow's central clinical hospital where he suffered cardiovascular and multi-organ failure, medical officials said.
Ill-healthIll-health
Mr Yeltsin came to power as a champion of Russia's new democracy.Mr Yeltsin came to power as a champion of Russia's new democracy.
HAVE YOUR SAY I think Yeltsin will go down in history in a very negative way - his policies impoverished the country and tens of millions of its people Gosha, New York Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I think Yeltsin will go down in history in a very negative way - his policies impoverished the country and tens of millions of its people Gosha, New York Send us your comments
In a defining moment of his career, Mr Yeltsin mounted a tank in Moscow in August 1991, rallying the people against an attempt to overthrow Mr Gorbachev's era of glasnost and perestroika.In a defining moment of his career, Mr Yeltsin mounted a tank in Moscow in August 1991, rallying the people against an attempt to overthrow Mr Gorbachev's era of glasnost and perestroika.
Mr Yeltsin saw his later years in office overshadowed by bouts of ill-health, increasingly erratic behaviour and plummeting popularity, and handed over to Mr Putin in the final hours of 1999.Mr Yeltsin saw his later years in office overshadowed by bouts of ill-health, increasingly erratic behaviour and plummeting popularity, and handed over to Mr Putin in the final hours of 1999.
BBC Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says under Mr Yeltsin Russians were given greater political freedoms than ever, but history may judge his disastrous military intervention in the rebellious region of Chechnya much more harshly.BBC Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke says under Mr Yeltsin Russians were given greater political freedoms than ever, but history may judge his disastrous military intervention in the rebellious region of Chechnya much more harshly.