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| Venezuela holds Hugo Chavez state funeral | Venezuela holds Hugo Chavez state funeral |
| (10 days later) | |
| Venezuelans have paid an emotional farewell to the late President Hugo Chavez at his state funeral in Caracas. | Venezuelans have paid an emotional farewell to the late President Hugo Chavez at his state funeral in Caracas. |
| Vice-President Nicolas Maduro told mourners Mr Chavez, who led Venezuela for 14 years, remained "undefeated, pure, living for all time". | Vice-President Nicolas Maduro told mourners Mr Chavez, who led Venezuela for 14 years, remained "undefeated, pure, living for all time". |
| Mr Maduro was due to be sworn in as acting president later on Friday. He has to call elections within 30 days. | Mr Maduro was due to be sworn in as acting president later on Friday. He has to call elections within 30 days. |
| Opposition leader Henrique Capriles condemned Mr Maduro's imminent inauguration as "fraudulent". | Opposition leader Henrique Capriles condemned Mr Maduro's imminent inauguration as "fraudulent". |
| He said that "nobody elected" Maduro president and that the government was "abusing" its powers. | He said that "nobody elected" Maduro president and that the government was "abusing" its powers. |
| Opposition parties are boycotting Mr Maduro's swearing-in, arguing that under the constitution the speaker of the National Assembly should be the one to take over as acting president. | Opposition parties are boycotting Mr Maduro's swearing-in, arguing that under the constitution the speaker of the National Assembly should be the one to take over as acting president. |
| But, in a decision made public as the funeral went ahead, Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled in Mr Maduro's favour. | But, in a decision made public as the funeral went ahead, Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled in Mr Maduro's favour. |
| Mourning | Mourning |
| Hugo Chavez, 58, died on Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer. | Hugo Chavez, 58, died on Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer. |
| The vice-president began the funeral ceremony by presenting Mr Chavez's coffin with the sword of Simon Bolivar - the 19th-Century independence leader he claimed as his inspiration. | The vice-president began the funeral ceremony by presenting Mr Chavez's coffin with the sword of Simon Bolivar - the 19th-Century independence leader he claimed as his inspiration. |
| In his eulogy, Mr Maduro said no other leader had been as vilified as Mr Chavez, but no-one had been able to stop him or his socialist "revolution". | In his eulogy, Mr Maduro said no other leader had been as vilified as Mr Chavez, but no-one had been able to stop him or his socialist "revolution". |
| "The humble, the poor, the oppressed - we are his living testimony", Mr Maduro said. | "The humble, the poor, the oppressed - we are his living testimony", Mr Maduro said. |
| He also praised Mr Chavez's work for Latin American unity, and said he worked for "a world without empires". | He also praised Mr Chavez's work for Latin American unity, and said he worked for "a world without empires". |
| More than 30 world leaders attended the ceremony, including Cuban President Raul Castro, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. | More than 30 world leaders attended 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. |
| People lined up outside the military academy for the second consecutive day to see Hugo Chavez's body. The atmosphere was festive, with live music blasting through speakers. | People lined up outside the military academy for the second consecutive day to see Hugo Chavez's body. The atmosphere was festive, with live music blasting through speakers. |
| At the same time, foreign dignitaries from more than 30 countries, including Cuba's Raul Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, started arriving for the state funeral. | At the same time, foreign dignitaries from more than 30 countries, including Cuba's Raul Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, started arriving for the state funeral. |
| The ceremony started with the national anthem played by Venezuela's famous Simon Bolivar National Youth Orchestra, directed by Gustavo Dudamel, director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. | The ceremony started with the national anthem played by Venezuela's famous Simon Bolivar National Youth Orchestra, directed by Gustavo Dudamel, director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. |
| Vice-President Nicolas Maduro placed a replica of the sword used by Simon Bolivar, the 19th-Century revolutionary, on top of Mr Chavez's coffin. | Vice-President Nicolas Maduro placed a replica of the sword used by Simon Bolivar, the 19th-Century revolutionary, on top of Mr Chavez's coffin. |
| All presidents were then called one by one to stand by the coffin in groups of eight for a minute of silence. Mr Castro went first. Mr Ahmadinejad kissed the coffin. | All presidents were then called one by one to stand by the coffin in groups of eight for a minute of silence. Mr Castro went first. Mr Ahmadinejad kissed the coffin. |
| The ceremony ended with a speech by Mr Maduro on Mr Chavez's legacy. "Chavez lives. The fight goes on," he said. | The ceremony ended with a speech by Mr Maduro on Mr Chavez's legacy. "Chavez lives. The fight goes on," he said. |
| Honour guards were made up of prominent Venezuelans, including student leaders and baseball players, Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado and 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!" |
| Reconciliation | Reconciliation |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. |
| 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. |
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| 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. |
| Supporters want him eventually interred in Venezuela's national Pantheon alongside Simon Bolivar. | 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, 58, was re-elected for a fourth term as president last October after saying he had recovered from his illness. | Mr Chavez, 58, 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. |
| Under Venezuela's constitution, elections must be called within 30 days and the government has said it will abide by this. | Under Venezuela's constitution, elections must be called within 30 days and the government has said it will abide by this. |
| Mr Maduro will be the candidate for the governing United Socialist Party (PSUV). | Mr Maduro will be the candidate for the governing United Socialist Party (PSUV). |
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