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Russia bids farewell to Yeltsin Russia bids farewell to Yeltsin
(about 1 hour later)
The state funeral is taking place in Moscow of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin who died on Monday.The state funeral is taking place in Moscow of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin who died on Monday.
A religious ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which was rebuilt under Mr Yeltsin after being demolished during Soviet rule. A religious ceremony was attended by former world leaders Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev and John Major.
Mr Yeltsin's body is currently being taken to Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery to be buried there. Mr Yeltsin's body is currently being carried from the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery to be buried there.
Mr Yeltsin was Russia's first elected president, leading it to independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.Mr Yeltsin was Russia's first elected president, leading it to independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
During his time in office, he presided over huge changes and his legacy remains controversial for some.During his time in office, he presided over huge changes and his legacy remains controversial for some.
He died from heart failure on Monday, aged 76.He died from heart failure on Monday, aged 76.
Wednesday has been declared a day of national mourning.Wednesday has been declared a day of national mourning.
Grandiose ceremonyGrandiose ceremony
The religious ceremony was held in the city's main cathedral, an imposing building of marble and gold domes, before Mr Yeltsin's widow Naina and his two daughters. The religious ceremony was held in the city's main cathedral, an imposing building of marble and gold domes which was rebuilt under Mr Yeltsin after being demolished during Soviet rule.
Two dozen white-robed priests led the service showing the full splendour of the Russian Orthodox church. Two dozen white-robed priests led the service showing the full splendour of the Russian Orthodox church, as Mr Yeltsin's widow Naina and his two daughters sat beside the open coffin.
Among those present were President Vladimir Putin and former president Mikhail Gorbachev.Among those present were President Vladimir Putin and former president Mikhail Gorbachev.
Two former US presidents - Bill Clinton and George Bush Snr - were also attending the ceremony, along with former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major and the Duke of York.Two former US presidents - Bill Clinton and George Bush Snr - were also attending the ceremony, along with former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major and the Duke of York.
STATE FUNERAL 0800 to 1230 Coffin open to public at Christ the Saviour cathedral1330 Religious service at cathedralAbout 1430 Cortege carries coffin to Novodevichy cemeteryAfter 1500 Burial ceremony All Moscow time (GMT+4) In pictures: Yeltsin's funeral Obituary of Yeltsin Send us your commentsSTATE FUNERAL 0800 to 1230 Coffin open to public at Christ the Saviour cathedral1330 Religious service at cathedralAbout 1430 Cortege carries coffin to Novodevichy cemeteryAfter 1500 Burial ceremony All Moscow time (GMT+4) In pictures: Yeltsin's funeral Obituary of Yeltsin Send us your comments
A priest read a personal statement from the head of the church, Patriarch Alexy II, in which he recalled how Mr Yeltsin's fate was linked to that of his country.A priest read a personal statement from the head of the church, Patriarch Alexy II, in which he recalled how Mr Yeltsin's fate was linked to that of his country.
"The destiny of Boris Nikolayevich reflected the whole dramatic history of the 20th Century. "The destiny of Boris Nikolayevich reflected the whole dramatic history of the 20th Century."
He said Mr Yeltsin had answered Russia's call for freedom.He said Mr Yeltsin had answered Russia's call for freedom.
"At this time, the desire of our people to live in freedom was growing ever stronger. Boris Nikolayevich felt this desire and helped to bring it about. Being a strong character he took on responsibility for the country at a difficult and dangerous time of radical change.""At this time, the desire of our people to live in freedom was growing ever stronger. Boris Nikolayevich felt this desire and helped to bring it about. Being a strong character he took on responsibility for the country at a difficult and dangerous time of radical change."
Ahead of the funeral, Mr Yeltsin's body was laid out in the cathedral. Four members of the Kremlin Guard kept watch over the coffin.Ahead of the funeral, Mr Yeltsin's body was laid out in the cathedral. Four members of the Kremlin Guard kept watch over the coffin.
Funeral symbolismFuneral symbolism
Mr Yeltsin will later be buried in Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery alongside actors and writers, instead of being laid to rest on the Red Square like other former Soviet leaders. Mr Yeltsin will later be buried in Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery alongside actors and writers, instead of being laid to rest in Red Square like other former Soviet leaders.
Russians give their views on Yeltsin and his legacyIn picturesRussians give their views on Yeltsin and his legacyIn pictures
The symbolism surrounding Mr Yeltsin's death has been deliberately unlike that of past Soviet leaders, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow.The symbolism surrounding Mr Yeltsin's death has been deliberately unlike that of past Soviet leaders, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow.
The original church were his body has been lying in state was blown up by the Soviets and the site used for a swimming pool. The original church where his body has been lying in state was blown up by the Soviets and the site used for a swimming pool.
Mr Yeltsin's funeral is the first for a head of state sanctioned by the Church since Tsar Alexander III's in 1894.Mr Yeltsin's funeral is the first for a head of state sanctioned by the Church since Tsar Alexander III's in 1894.
"By his strength, he helped the restoration of the proper role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the life of the country and its people," said Church spokesman Metropolitan Kirill."By his strength, he helped the restoration of the proper role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the life of the country and its people," said Church spokesman Metropolitan Kirill.
Mixed legacyMixed legacy
YELTSIN KEY DATES July 1990: Resigns from Communist PartyJune 1991: Elected president of Russian republic (in USSR)August 1991: Rallies citizens against anti-Gorbachev coup, bans Russian Communist partyDecember 1991: Takes over from Mikhail Gorbachev as head of state1992: Lifts price controls, launches privatisationOctober 1993: Russia on brink of civil war, Yeltsin orders tanks to fire at parliamentDecember 1994: Sends tanks into ChechnyaJune 1996: Re-elected as Russian president, suffers heart attack during campaign1998: Financial crisis, rouble loses 75% of its valueDecember 1999: Resigns, appoints Vladimir Putin successor Mixed verdict on Yeltsin In quotes: Reaction to deathYELTSIN KEY DATES July 1990: Resigns from Communist PartyJune 1991: Elected president of Russian republic (in USSR)August 1991: Rallies citizens against anti-Gorbachev coup, bans Russian Communist partyDecember 1991: Takes over from Mikhail Gorbachev as head of state1992: Lifts price controls, launches privatisationOctober 1993: Russia on brink of civil war, Yeltsin orders tanks to fire at parliamentDecember 1994: Sends tanks into ChechnyaJune 1996: Re-elected as Russian president, suffers heart attack during campaign1998: Financial crisis, rouble loses 75% of its valueDecember 1999: Resigns, appoints Vladimir Putin successor Mixed verdict on Yeltsin In quotes: Reaction to death
Thousands of members of the public - some weeping and clutching flowers - queued to pay their respects on Tuesday.Thousands of members of the public - some weeping and clutching flowers - queued to pay their respects on Tuesday.
But the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says the former president's legacy remains controversial in today's Russia.But the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says the former president's legacy remains controversial in today's Russia.
Many people feel that he oversaw the terrible economic crisis in Russia in the late 1990s and started a very unpopular war in Chechnya, our correspondent adds.Many people feel that he oversaw the terrible economic crisis in Russia in the late 1990s and started a very unpopular war in Chechnya, our correspondent adds.
Mr Yeltsin also oversaw the rise of a class of super-rich oligarchs and huge disparity in wealth in Russia.Mr Yeltsin also oversaw the rise of a class of super-rich oligarchs and huge disparity in wealth in Russia.
But some critics say the democracy established under Mr Yeltsin has been curtailed by President Putin.But some critics say the democracy established under Mr Yeltsin has been curtailed by President Putin.