8 March 2013 Last updated at 11:56 ET
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Watch Venezuela hold its state funeral for Hugo Chavez
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Chavez dies[/h]
The state funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is under way in the capital, Caracas.
About 30 world leaders are attending the ceremony in the military academy and huge crowds of his supporters are gathered outside.
Later, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro is due to be sworn in as acting president. He must call elections within 30 days.
Hugo Chavez, who led Venezuela for 14 years, died on Tuesday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer.
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.
An honour guard for his coffin was formed by Latin American and Caribbean leaders - including President Raul Castro of Cuba, Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Rafael Correa of Ecuador.
Outside, crowds chanted "Chavez lives!" and "The struggle continues!"
More than two million people have filed past Mr Chavez's coffin, and his body is to be embalmed and put on permanent display.
Chavez 'the martyr' Also attending is Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has praised Mr Chavez as a "martyr" and a "wise and revolutionary leader".
Congressman Gregory Meeks and former Congressman William Delahunt will represent the US at the funeral of Mr Chavez, a fierce critic of Washington.
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.
Continue reading the main story The building will be converted into a new "museum of the revolution", Mr Maduro said.
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Chavez funeral: who is attending[/h]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tackling poverty and increasing access to education and healthcare were avowed aims for President Chavez
The high rates of murder, other violent crimes and kidnappings are key concerns for Venezuelans
Venezuela's oil wealth has been the mainstay of the economy, providing 50% of government revenues
Child mortality rates fell, in line with the region, but some medical staff protested at lack of investment
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Watch Venezuela hold its state funeral for Hugo Chavez
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Chavez dies[/h]
The state funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is under way in the capital, Caracas.
About 30 world leaders are attending the ceremony in the military academy and huge crowds of his supporters are gathered outside.
Later, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro is due to be sworn in as acting president. He must call elections within 30 days.
Hugo Chavez, who led Venezuela for 14 years, died on Tuesday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer.
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.
An honour guard for his coffin was formed by Latin American and Caribbean leaders - including President Raul Castro of Cuba, Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Rafael Correa of Ecuador.
Outside, crowds chanted "Chavez lives!" and "The struggle continues!"
More than two million people have filed past Mr Chavez's coffin, and his body is to be embalmed and put on permanent display.
Chavez 'the martyr' Also attending is Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has praised Mr Chavez as a "martyr" and a "wise and revolutionary leader".
Congressman Gregory Meeks and former Congressman William Delahunt will represent the US at the funeral of Mr Chavez, a fierce critic of Washington.
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.
Continue reading the main story The building will be converted into a new "museum of the revolution", Mr Maduro said.
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Chavez funeral: who is attending[/h]
- Most Latin American and Caribbean Presidents, including close Chavez allies Raul Castro of Cuba and Rafael Correa of Ecuador
- Fellow US foes Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus
- Senior envoys from Russia and China
- US represented by Congressman Gregory Meeks and former Congressman William Delahunt
- Spain represented by Crown Prince Felipe of Asturias
- President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil and Cristina Fernandez of Argentina have returned home after paying their respects
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.
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.
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.
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.
previous slide next slide
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions