Singaporeans are set to bid farewell to their first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who will be laid to rest on Sunday after a week of national mourning since his demise on Monday.
The 91-year-old, regarded as the founder of the modern city-state, was both revered and feared during his rule of more than three decades.
Lee died after days of fighting severe pneumonia.
The funeral processions will begin at 12.30 pm local time (10 am in India, 4.30 am in UK, 12.30 am in the US), while the funeral service will be held at 2 pm.
LATEST:
- The funeral service has ended, and Lee Kuan Yew will make his final journey to the Mandai crematorium, where the funeral will be carried out in private.
#LeeKuanYew's cortege will leave for Mandai Crematorium for a private funeral service http://t.co/s7b8Ir4wZ6 pic.twitter.com/N0pFvHz5qK
— Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) March 29, 2015
- World leaders at the funeral service. Indian PM Modi with Australian PM Tony Abbott and former US President Bill Clinton.
Today we remember Lee Kuan Yew - friend of Australia and father of modern Singapore @narendramodi @billclinton pic.twitter.com/CdBTzob0OE
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) March 29, 2015
- Chants of 'Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Kuan Yew' are filling the air even as the rains pour down during the Singaporean leader's final journey.
- The funeral procession has begun, with guard-of-honour contingents from Singapore's armed forces and police.
Lee Kuan Yew was among the tallest leaders of our times - PM @narendramodi in Singapore http://t.co/fIPFAjLqTb pic.twitter.com/JRWzUz5JTa
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) March 29, 2015
- Singapore's Prime Minister and Lee's eldest son Lee Hsien Loong took to his Facebook page to convey his message.
"Since my father passed away, Singaporeans have expressed their grief overwhelmingly. Huge crowds have come to the community tribute centres, and queued up for hours, day and night, to pay their respects at Parliament House. Overseas and online, our friends and Singaporean clubs have also sent their condolences and organised memorial events to honour my father. It has been a deeply moving experience" he said.
- World leaders have also begun to arrive in Singapore.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to arrive.
Sharing grief. PM @narendramodi in Singapore to attend visionary 1st Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's State funeral. pic.twitter.com/BDXsqhWwB0
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) March 28, 2015
- Despite a slight drizzle, thousands of people have already gathered along the route through which the state funeral procession will move from the Parliament House to the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore for the funeral service.