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Tens of thousands attend former Turkish prime minister funeral

Iran Materials 11 November 2006 14:13 (UTC +04:00)

(Associated Press) - Tens of thousands of mourners, some weeping and throwing red carnations, thronged the funeral procession of former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Saturday, reports Trend.

Ecevit, a much respected political force in Turkey for almost half a century, died on Sunday after nearly six months in a coma following a stroke. He was 81.

Though he served five times as Turkey's prime minister, Ecevit is best known for ordering the 1974 invasion of Cyprus, which led to the division of the Mediterranean island but made him a hero at home. His struggle for worker rights also made him popular with the people for decades.

"People's Ecevit! Turkey is proud of you," thousands chanted as the military hearse carrying his flag-draped casket reached the headquarters of his Democratic Left Party.

Mourners carrying red Turkish flags, banners and portraits of Ecevit observed a minute of silence. Some set free white doves, the party's symbol, and one banner showed Ecevit kissing a dove.

"He was a man of peace. We will always love you, we will always miss you," said Zeki Sezer, chairman of Ecevit's party.

Earlier, a brief religious service attended by Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, chief of the general staff, was held at the military hospital where Ecevit died.

Political leaders and foreign dignitaries attended a state funeral at the parliament, and tens of thousands of mourners flocked to Ankara's biggest mosque, Kocatepe, for funeral prayers.

The burial will take place later Saturday at the state cemetery in Ankara. Parliament on Wednesday amended a law to allow prime ministers to be interred there alongside presidents.

The funeral was originally planned for Wednesday but was moved to Saturday so workers could attend, according to the wishes of Ecevit's wife Rahsan.

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