Venezuela carries out the State funeral of Hugo Chavez

Venezuela, March 8, 2013

A few hours ago began the state funeral of former President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, which is held in the chapel installed in Fort Tiuna Military School, west of Caracas. They sang the national anthem of Venezuela and also was attended by Latin American leaders.

In the first line were Elena Chavez, Hugo’s mother and the daughters of the former president.

The more than 30 heads of state and government officials from around the world were introduced one by one.

Then Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra played the anthem of the Caribbean country and Maduro, Vice President , placed Bolivar’s sword on the coffin.

Then the leaders and personalities carried out honor guards. The first watch was made by the presidents of Cuba, Raul Castro, Chile, Sebastián Piñera, Bolivia, Evo Morales, Ecuador, Rafael Correa, Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, among others, and gave way to the guard who led his colleagues in Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, and other leaders.

The casket will remain another week and then the body will be embalmed and placed at the Museum of the Revolution, where it will be displayed in a glass coffin.