Thousands attend Falwell funeral

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Thousands of people have attended the funeral of the leading US conservative evangelist, the Reverend Jerry Falwell, in the town of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Mr Falwell, who died last week aged 73, was the founder in the 1970s of the Moral Majority - a right-wing religious pressure group.

It played a key role in turning conservative religious groups into a powerful political force in the US.

Mr Falwell had campaigned against abortion, homosexuality and feminism.

His alliance with Republicans in the 1980s was a key help in the elections of Ronald Reagan as president and many political leaders had sought his support.

However, many leading Republicans decided not to attend the funeral service in a sign that the political influence of the religious right over the party was waning, correspondents say.

President George W Bush sent a mid-level aide to represent him.