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| Levy Mwanawasa buried in Zambia | Levy Mwanawasa buried in Zambia |
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| The late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has been buried at a sombre ceremony in the capital, Lusaka. | The late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has been buried at a sombre ceremony in the capital, Lusaka. |
| There was a 21-gun salute as his body was lowered into the ground in a copper-plated coffin - Zambia is Africa's biggest copper producer. | There was a 21-gun salute as his body was lowered into the ground in a copper-plated coffin - Zambia is Africa's biggest copper producer. |
| Proceedings are being shown on four giant screens in Lusaka, as well as live on national television. | Proceedings are being shown on four giant screens in Lusaka, as well as live on national television. |
| Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe is one of several African leaders present, even though Mr Mwanawasa had criticised him. | Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe is one of several African leaders present, even though Mr Mwanawasa had criticised him. |
| On his arrival in Lusaka, Mr Mugabe praised Mr Mwanawasa. | On his arrival in Lusaka, Mr Mugabe praised Mr Mwanawasa. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 'Orphaned again' | 'Orphaned again' |
| The mourners were led by Mr Mwanawasa's wife, Maureen, and their six children. | The mourners were led by Mr Mwanawasa's wife, Maureen, and their six children. |
| She said she felt most sorry for the orphans who Mr Mwanawasa had looked after through his Baptists church. | She said she felt most sorry for the orphans who Mr Mwanawasa had looked after through his Baptists church. |
| Robert Mugabe paid his respects to Maureen Mwanawasa on Tuesday | Robert Mugabe paid his respects to Maureen Mwanawasa on Tuesday |
| "He was the father of all. It is the orphans he took care of that bring pain to my throat, they are orphaned again," she said. | "He was the father of all. It is the orphans he took care of that bring pain to my throat, they are orphaned again," she said. |
| Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete - the current African Union chairman - praised him as a "visionary leader", reports the AFP news agency. | Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete - the current African Union chairman - praised him as a "visionary leader", reports the AFP news agency. |
| The BBC's Musonda Chibamba in Lusaka says ordinary Zambians were told not to attend the ceremony but to watch it instead. | The BBC's Musonda Chibamba in Lusaka says ordinary Zambians were told not to attend the ceremony but to watch it instead. |
| Since being returned to Zambia on 23 August following his death in France, Mr Mwanawasa's body has been taken around the country to let people pay their respects. | Since being returned to Zambia on 23 August following his death in France, Mr Mwanawasa's body has been taken around the country to let people pay their respects. |
| He was buried at Embassy Park, near the presidential offices, after a service at a church in the grounds of parliament. | He was buried at Embassy Park, near the presidential offices, after a service at a church in the grounds of parliament. |
| Funeral diplomacy | Funeral diplomacy |
| Tanzania's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said the African leaders would use the funeral to discuss Zimbabwe's political crisis. | Tanzania's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said the African leaders would use the funeral to discuss Zimbabwe's political crisis. |
| President Kikwete on Tuesday said he would try to revive the deadlocked power-sharing talks between Mr Mugabe and Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr Tsvangirai also attended the funeral, along with the leaders of South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and Lesotho.The copper-plated coffin has been taken around the country | |
| UK Minister for Africa Lord Malloch Brown and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer were also present, AFP reports. | UK Minister for Africa Lord Malloch Brown and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer were also present, AFP reports. |
| As chairman of the regional body, SADC, Mr Mwanawasa had called Zimbabwe's election an "embarrassment". Last year, he said the country was "sinking like the Titanic". | As chairman of the regional body, SADC, Mr Mwanawasa had called Zimbabwe's election an "embarrassment". Last year, he said the country was "sinking like the Titanic". |
| Mr Mwanawasa died at a military hospital in Paris on 19 August, after suffering a stroke at the African Union summit in June. He was 59 and had been in poor health for some time. | Mr Mwanawasa died at a military hospital in Paris on 19 August, after suffering a stroke at the African Union summit in June. He was 59 and had been in poor health for some time. |
| 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. | 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 had been a practising lawyer since 1973. | He had been a practising lawyer since 1973. |
| Under the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of the president's death. | Under the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of the president's death. |