Hundreds Pay Tribute To Vietnam President At State Funeral

Hundreds of black-clad mourners, weeping or lighting incense and laying wreaths, gathered Wednesday at a state funeral for Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang who died last week after a prolonged illness.

Hanoi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Sep, 2018 ) :Hundreds of black-clad mourners, weeping or lighting incense and laying wreaths, gathered Wednesday at a state funeral for Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang who died last week after a prolonged illness.

Long lines of officials, police, relatives and monks in golden robes streamed through the National Funeral House in central Hanoi, where Quang's flag-draped coffin lay beneath a large portrait of the leader who passed away at age 61 on Friday.

Quang, a member of the ruling Communist Party's powerful politburo, spent more than four decades climbing the ranks of the security apparatus until he became president in 2016.

The presidency is a mostly ceremonial role and his passing is unlikely to dramatically disrupt politics in the one-party state, to which the lifelong communist stalwart and former police chief dedicated most of his career.

Quang was praised for his loyalty and patriotism at his funeral Wednesday. His black-clad family, wearing white headbands, greeted mourners passing the coffin which was flanked by massive arrangements of yellow flowers.

"He devoted his entire life and made numerous contributions to national revolutionary causes... his passing is a huge loss to our party, state and people," said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh.

The country's top party officials led tributes with large red, yellow and white floral wreaths, including Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, who lit incense and bowed before the coffin.

Several foreign officials also paid respects, including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who had known Quang since they fought together in the bush as the Vietnamese led the drive to topple the Khmer Rouge.