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This article was first published 11 years ago

Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez

Last updated on: March 8, 2013 11:17 IST

Image: Supporters of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez react as they view his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas
Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

A sea of sobbing, heartbroken humanity has jammed Venezuela's main military academy to see Chavez's body, some waiting 10 hours under the twinkling stars and the searing Caribbean sun to file past his coffin.

At the military academy, Chavez lay in a glass-covered coffin wearing the olive-green military uniform and red beret of his paratrooper days and looking gaunt and pale, his lips pressed together.

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans shuffled forward to salute, raise clenched fists or make the sign of the cross over Chavez's casket.

A total of 33 heads of state and 55 high-level international delegations from 54 countries and regions have so far confirmed to attend the state funeral of the late president. Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot will represent India at the state funeral.

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

A supporter of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures as she views his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez hold onto a barrier as they stand in line to view his body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A woman is carried out of the crowd of supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez after collapsing while waiting to view Chavez's body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas

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Photographs: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Supporters of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cry

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A supporter of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez holds up a doll of Chavez while waiting on line to view his body in state at the Military Academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Desmond Boylan/Reuters

A medical student from Venezuela cries during a tribute in honour of the late President Hugo Chavez

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

Supporters of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez react as they view his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

Supporters of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez view his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L), Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff (C) and Rosa Virginia, daughter of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, view Chavez's coffin

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

Cuba's President Raul Castro views the coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez during a wake at the military academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Miraflores Palace/Handout/Reuters

Rosa Virginia (L), daughter of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, former Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba (2nd L) and Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro (3rd L) view his coffin during a wake at the military academy in Caracas

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Heartbroken Venezuela mourns Chavez


Photographs: Jorge Cabrera/Reuters

A boy holds a sign that reads "Long live Chavez" during a tribute for the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Tegucigalpa

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