Lee Kuan Yew: Singapore holds funeral procession

Singapore is bidding farewell to its founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died on Monday aged 91.

Despite torrential rain, thousands lined the streets to view the funeral procession carrying Mr Lee’s coffin from parliament, where it has been lying in state, across the city.

A state funeral attended by world leaders is now taking place, ahead of a private family cremation ceremony.

One million people have visited tribute sites this week, say local media.

More than half a million people – 12% of Singaporean citizens – visited Parliament House to see Mr Lee’s coffin, while at least 850,000 others went to community sites to pay tribute.

In his eulogy, Mr Lee’s son and the current Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong, said his father had “lived and breathed Singapore all his life”.

“The light that has guided us all these years has been extinguished,” he said.

Funeral procession in Singapore

Crowds lined the entire funeral route through the city despite pouring rain

People in the rain watching funeral procession

There were both tears and cheering as the procession came in to view

 

BBC

 

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