Hugo Chávez lies in state with open casket
The body of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lies in state at the Caracas military academy, after huge crowds watch a procession carrying his coffin.The body of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lay in state in a half-open casket Wednesday at a military academy in Caracas, after throngs of weeping supporters lined the streets to bid farewell.Latin American leaders joined hundreds of thousands of grieving Venezuelans in paying tribute at the open casket of Hugo Chávez as the firebrand leftist president lay in state in Caracas overnight.
The 58-year-old leader died Tuesday, weakened by a respiratory infection after a fourth round of cancer surgery.Maduro, who on Tuesday tearfully broke the news to the nation that his mentor had died, has taken over as interim president and will campaign for the presidency proper. (Even after death, Hugo Chavez gets choice of successor)
The wooden casket was surrounded by four tall candelabras as his children, senior aides and three Latin American leaders looked on, according to images broadcast on state television.
Mr Maduro is expected to face the opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, who stood for the presidency in October but was beaten by Mr Chávez. The opposition has yet to confirm Mr Capriles as its official candidate.
But for now, the election is the last thing on the minds of the Chávez supporters, who are simply trying to come to terms with their loss and are calling for him to be interred inside the National Pantheon alongside Venezuela's liberator, Simon Bolivar, our correspondent adds.
The body of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lies in state at the Caracas military academy, after huge crowds watch a procession carrying his coffin.The body of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lay in state in a half-open casket Wednesday at a military academy in Caracas, after throngs of weeping supporters lined the streets to bid farewell.Latin American leaders joined hundreds of thousands of grieving Venezuelans in paying tribute at the open casket of Hugo Chávez as the firebrand leftist president lay in state in Caracas overnight.
The 58-year-old leader died Tuesday, weakened by a respiratory infection after a fourth round of cancer surgery.Maduro, who on Tuesday tearfully broke the news to the nation that his mentor had died, has taken over as interim president and will campaign for the presidency proper. (Even after death, Hugo Chavez gets choice of successor)
The wooden casket was surrounded by four tall candelabras as his children, senior aides and three Latin American leaders looked on, according to images broadcast on state television.
Mr Maduro is expected to face the opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, who stood for the presidency in October but was beaten by Mr Chávez. The opposition has yet to confirm Mr Capriles as its official candidate.
But for now, the election is the last thing on the minds of the Chávez supporters, who are simply trying to come to terms with their loss and are calling for him to be interred inside the National Pantheon alongside Venezuela's liberator, Simon Bolivar, our correspondent adds.
No comments:
Post a Comment