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Mwanawasa to be buried in Zambia Mwanawasa to be buried in Zambia
(about 7 hours later)
The late Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa, is to be buried in the capital, Lusaka. The late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa is to be buried in the capital, Lusaka.
Leaders from across Africa and senior officials from Europe and the US are expected to attend the state funeral. Leaders from across Africa and senior officials from Europe and the US are attending the state funeral.
Mr Mwanawasa died in France on 19 August, after suffering a stroke in June. He was 59. They include Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, although Mr Mwanawasa was one of the few African leaders to openly criticise his policies.
Mr Mwanawasa became president in 2001 and was re-elected in 2006. He had won praise from the world community for his economic prudence. On his arrival for the funeral, Mr Mugabe praised Mr Mwanawasa for being "courageous" and "frank".
Mugabe critic "He was very frank and wanted to change not only his country but the entire southern African region. We will greatly miss him," Mr Mugabe said, according to state radio.
Fourteen African heads of state and government are gathering in Lusaka. Funeral diplomacy
Among those attending the funeral are South African President Thabo Mbeki, Tanzanian and African Union President Jakaya Kikwete and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Mr Mwanawasa had called Zimbabwe's election an "embarrassment" and last year said the country was "sinking like the Titanic".
Mr Mwanawasa was one of the few African leaders to criticise Mr Mugabe, describing this year's election in Zimbabwe as an embarrassment. Tanzania's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said the African leaders would use the funeral to discuss Zimbabwe's political crisis.
Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete - the current African Union chairman - on Tuesday said he would try to revive the deadlocked power-sharing talks between Mr Mugabe and Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mr Mwanawasa died in France in August, after suffering a stroke at the African Union summit in June. He was 59.
He was first elected in 2001, before being returned to power at polls in 2006. He had won praise from the world community for his economic prudence.
At home he will probably be best remembered for stripping his predecessor Frederick Chiluba of immunity from prosecution, the BBC's Jonah Fisher says.At home he will probably be best remembered for stripping his predecessor Frederick Chiluba of immunity from prosecution, the BBC's Jonah Fisher says.
Mr Mwanawasa's critics accused him of persecuting his political rivals under the guise of fighting corruption.Mr Mwanawasa's critics accused him of persecuting his political rivals under the guise of fighting corruption.
He was married and had six children. He had been a practising lawyer since 1973.He was married and had six children. He had been a practising lawyer since 1973.
Under the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of the president's death.