Ahmadinejad arrives for Hugo Chavez's funeral
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
From Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Cuba's Raul Castro, about 30 heads of state joined Friday's funeral of Hugo Chavez in a last goodbye to the charismatic but divisive Venezuelan leader who changed the face of politics in South America.
Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer, devastating millions of mostly poor supporters who loved him for putting the country's vast oil wealth at their service, but giving hope to foes who saw him as a dictator.
Huge crowds of "Chavistas" arrived early for the ceremony at a military academy where his body has been lying in state. Many were dressed in the red of the ruling Socialist Party, carrying his picture and waving Venezuelan flags.
From Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Cuba's Raul Castro, about 30 heads of state joined Friday's funeral of Hugo Chavez in a last goodbye to the charismatic but divisive Venezuelan leader who changed the face of politics in South America.
Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer, devastating millions of mostly poor supporters who loved him for putting the country's vast oil wealth at their service, but giving hope to foes who saw him as a dictator.
Huge crowds of "Chavistas" arrived early for the ceremony at a military academy where his body has been lying in state. Many were dressed in the red of the ruling Socialist Party, carrying his picture and waving Venezuelan flags.