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Koreans turn out in force for Roh | Koreans turn out in force for Roh |
(9 minutes later) | |
Tens of thousands of South Koreans have turned out in Seoul for the funeral of former President Roh Moo-hyun, who died last week. | Tens of thousands of South Koreans have turned out in Seoul for the funeral of former President Roh Moo-hyun, who died last week. |
Top officials attended the ceremony, while crowds filled nearby streets. | Top officials attended the ceremony, while crowds filled nearby streets. |
Mr Roh dedicated himself to democracy and he would not be forgotten, PM Han Seung-soo said in a eulogy. | Mr Roh dedicated himself to democracy and he would not be forgotten, PM Han Seung-soo said in a eulogy. |
Roh Moo-hyun jumped off a cliff last Saturday amid allegations, which he denied, of bribery. His death has caused immense shock in South Korea. | Roh Moo-hyun jumped off a cliff last Saturday amid allegations, which he denied, of bribery. His death has caused immense shock in South Korea. |
Some supporters say Mr Roh was investigated for political reasons. Authorities fear they may protest and some 15,000 riot police are on stand-by in case of disturbances. | Some supporters say Mr Roh was investigated for political reasons. Authorities fear they may protest and some 15,000 riot police are on stand-by in case of disturbances. |
Mr Roh was president between 2003 and 2008, when his term ended. Current President Lee Myung-bak's Grand National Party won the subsequent election, forcing Mr Roh's Uri party from office. | Mr Roh was president between 2003 and 2008, when his term ended. Current President Lee Myung-bak's Grand National Party won the subsequent election, forcing Mr Roh's Uri party from office. |
'Hunted by conservatives' | 'Hunted by conservatives' |
Millions of people have already visited altars around the country to pray for Mr Roh. | Millions of people have already visited altars around the country to pray for Mr Roh. |
href="/1/hi/in_pictures/8073220.stm">In pictures: Roh funeral In quotes: Reaction to Roh 'suicide' S Koreans sad and angry over Roh | |
Early on Friday the funeral procession left Bongha, the village to which he retired, for the journey to Seoul. | Early on Friday the funeral procession left Bongha, the village to which he retired, for the journey to Seoul. |
As the hearse arrived in the capital, tens of thousands of supporters wearing yellow - his campaign colour - lined the streets. | As the hearse arrived in the capital, tens of thousands of supporters wearing yellow - his campaign colour - lined the streets. |
The funeral was held at a former palace. Delivering the eulogy, Mr Han said that Mr Roh had "spent his life fighting for human rights, democracy and the end of authoritarianism". | The funeral was held at a former palace. Delivering the eulogy, Mr Han said that Mr Roh had "spent his life fighting for human rights, democracy and the end of authoritarianism". |
"We will strive to follow your last wishes for reconciliation, unity and a better nation," he said. | "We will strive to follow your last wishes for reconciliation, unity and a better nation," he said. |
Crowds watched the service on a huge television screen. Some booed as President Lee laid a flower for his predecessor. | Crowds watched the service on a huge television screen. Some booed as President Lee laid a flower for his predecessor. |
Some of the former president's supporters blame Mr Lee for the corruption investigation which they believe drove Mr Roh to his death, says the BBC's Chris Hogg, from Seoul. | Some of the former president's supporters blame Mr Lee for the corruption investigation which they believe drove Mr Roh to his death, says the BBC's Chris Hogg, from Seoul. |
ROH MOO-HYUN 2003 - elected president2004 - suspended by MPs, then reinstated by court2008 - leaves officeApr 2009 - quizzed for alleged bribery 23 May 2009 - dies while mountain climbing Obituary: Roh Moo-hyun | ROH MOO-HYUN 2003 - elected president2004 - suspended by MPs, then reinstated by court2008 - leaves officeApr 2009 - quizzed for alleged bribery 23 May 2009 - dies while mountain climbing Obituary: Roh Moo-hyun |
"I think the former president was hunted by conservatives," said one mourner, housewife Lee Ae-ran, as she paid her respects. | "I think the former president was hunted by conservatives," said one mourner, housewife Lee Ae-ran, as she paid her respects. |
Mr Roh's body will be cremated after the funeral and his ashes taken back to Bongha. | Mr Roh's body will be cremated after the funeral and his ashes taken back to Bongha. |
Mr Roh - a human rights lawyer - came from a humble farming family, but rose to the highest office on a platform of clean government and reconciliation with North Korea. | Mr Roh - a human rights lawyer - came from a humble farming family, but rose to the highest office on a platform of clean government and reconciliation with North Korea. |
Last month, he was questioned over allegations that he had taken more than $6m in bribes from a wealthy shoe manufacturer, Park Yeon-cha, who was indicted in December on separate bribery and tax evasion charges. | Last month, he was questioned over allegations that he had taken more than $6m in bribes from a wealthy shoe manufacturer, Park Yeon-cha, who was indicted in December on separate bribery and tax evasion charges. |
The former president later apologised for the scandal. But last Saturday he was killed in a fall from a mountain near his home, in an apparent suicide. | The former president later apologised for the scandal. But last Saturday he was killed in a fall from a mountain near his home, in an apparent suicide. |