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Venezuela holds Hugo Chavez state funeral Venezuela holds Hugo Chavez state funeral
(35 minutes later)
The state funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is under way in the capital, Caracas. Leaders from Latin America and beyond are attending the state funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
About 30 world leaders are attending the ceremony in the military academy and huge crowds of his supporters are gathered outside. Huge crowds are gathered outside the military academy in Caracas to honour Mr Chavez, who died on Tuesday after leading Venezuela for 14 years.
Later, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro is due to be sworn in as acting president. He must call elections within 30 days. Vice-President Nicolas Maduro told mourners that the late leader, who died after battling cancer, had taught Venezuelans to love their history.
Hugo Chavez, who led Venezuela for 14 years, died on Tuesday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. Later on Friday Mr Maduro is to be sworn in as acting president.
Vice-President Maduro began the ceremony by laying on Mr Chavez's coffin the sword of Simon Bolivar - the 19th-Century independence leader he claimed as his inspiration. He must call elections within 30 days.
Successive honour guards were formed to stand in silence beside the coffin. Officials have not disclosed the nature of Mr Chavez's illness.
The first were formed by Latin American and Caribbean leaders - including President Raul Castro of Cuba, Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Rafael Correa of Ecuador. The vice-president began the funeral ceremony by laying on Mr Chavez's coffin the sword of Simon Bolivar - the 19th-Century independence leader he claimed as his inspiration.
Another group was formed by Mr Chavez's allies from outside the region, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. In his address, Mr Maduro said: "The humble, the poor, the oppressed - we are his living testimony.
Mr Maduro also praised Mr Chavez's work for Latin American unity, and said he worked for "a world without empires".
More than 30 world leaders are attending the ceremony, including Cuban President Raul Castro, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.
A message was read out from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.A message was read out from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Further honour guards were made up of prominent Venezuelans, including Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado and the conductor Carlos Dudamel. Honour guards were made up of prominent Venezuelans, including student leaders and baseball players, Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado and conductor Carlos Dudamel.
Mourners inside the venue chanted "Chavez did not die, he multiplied!"Mourners inside the venue chanted "Chavez did not die, he multiplied!"
ReconciliationReconciliation
Mr Dudamel's celebrated National Youth Orchestra then accompanied folk singer Cristobal Jimenez performing traditional songs from the Llanos region where Mr Chavez was born. Ecumenical prayers were led by three religious leaders, including the American civil rights activist, Rev Jesse Jackson, who called for reconciliation between Venezuela and the US.
After prayers from Venezuelan Roman Catholic and evangelical leaders, US politician Rev Jesse Jackson prayed for reconciliation between Venezuela and the US.
"We share the same hemisphere, we play ball together, we trade resources together, we share dreams together," he said."We share the same hemisphere, we play ball together, we trade resources together, we share dreams together," he said.
"Let us forgive, redeem and move on to higher ground."
Outside, huge crowds dressed in the red sang "Chavez lives!" and "The struggle continues!"Outside, huge crowds dressed in the red sang "Chavez lives!" and "The struggle continues!"
More than two million people have filed past Mr Chavez's coffin, and his body is to be put on permanent display.More than two million people have filed past Mr Chavez's coffin, and his body is to be put on permanent display.
On Thursday, Mr Maduro said that Mr Chavez's body would be embalmed "like Lenin and Mao Zedong".On Thursday, Mr Maduro said that Mr Chavez's body would be embalmed "like Lenin and Mao Zedong".
The body will be moved to the Caracas military museum where in 1992 Mr Chavez - as an army officer - was captured after leading a failed coup.The body will be moved to the Caracas military museum where in 1992 Mr Chavez - as an army officer - was captured after leading a failed coup.
The building will be converted into a new "museum of the revolution", Mr Maduro said.The building will be converted into a new "museum of the revolution", Mr Maduro said.
Mr Chavez's supporters want him eventually interred in Venezuela's national Pantheon alongside Simon Bolivar, the 19th-Century independence leader the late president claimed as his political inspiration. Supporters want him eventually interred in Venezuela's national Pantheon alongside Simon Bolivar.
However, under Venezuela's constitution, people may only be admitted to the Pantheon 25 years after their death.However, under Venezuela's constitution, people may only be admitted to the Pantheon 25 years after their death.
Mr Chavez was re-elected for a fourth term as president last October after saying he had recovered from his illness.Mr Chavez was re-elected for a fourth term as president last October after saying he had recovered from his illness.
He named Mr Maduro as his preferred successor following the recurrence of his cancer.He named Mr Maduro as his preferred successor following the recurrence of his cancer.
The Vice-President is to be sworn in as acting president after the funeral in a special session of the National Assembly. The vice-president is to be sworn in as acting president after the funeral in a special session of the National Assembly.
But the main opposition coalition says it will boycott the ceremony, arguing that he has no constitutional right to the job.But the main opposition coalition says it will boycott the ceremony, arguing that he has no constitutional right to the job.
Under Venezuela's constitution, elections must be called within 30 days.Under Venezuela's constitution, elections must be called within 30 days.
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Are you in Caracas to see the body of Hugo Chavez lying in state? Are you in the capital for the funeral? You can send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Caracas to see the body of Hugo Chavez lying in state? Are you in the capital for the funeral? You can send us your comments using the form below.
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