Farewell to ‘El Comandante‘

09 March 2013 | 20:13 Code : 1913785 Home Photo Essay

Leaders from all over the world were in Venezuela Friday for the funeral of Hugo Chavez.

Spain's Prince Felipe arrives with other heads-of-state for the funeral of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Military Academy in Caracas March 8, 2013, in this picture provided by the Miraflores Palace. Chavez will be embalmed and put on display "for eternity" at a military museum after a state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pays tribute to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, during the funeral service at the Military Academy in Caracas March 8, 2013, in this picture provided by the Miraflores Palace. Chavez will be embalmed and put on display "for eternity" at a military museum after a state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) offers his condolences to Elena Frias, mother of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, during the funeral service at the Military Academy in Caracas March 8, 2013, in this picture provided by the Miraflores Palace. Chavez will be embalmed and put on display "for eternity" at a military museum after a state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.

Bolivia's national police cadets hold a portrait of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez during a ceremony in tribute to Chavez at the Murillo square in La Paz March 8, 2013. Chavez died this week aged 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.

Visiting heads of state stand next to the coffin of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, during the funeral ceremony at the Military Academy in Caracas March 8, 2013, in this picture provided by the Miraflores Palace. Chavez will be embalmed and put on display "for eternity" at a military museum after a state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.

Venezuela's Vice President Nicolas Maduro speaks to people outside the military academy where the body of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is lying in state in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 7, 2013. Maduro, Venezuela's acting president, said Chavez's remains will be put on permanent display at the Museum of the Revolution, close to the presidential palace where Chavez ruled for 14 years. A state funeral for Chavez attended by some 33 heads of government is scheduled to begin Friday morning. Chavez died on March 5 after a nearly two-year bout with cancer. He was 58.

In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Cuba's President Raul Castro salutes as he stands next to the coffin containing the remains of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez during his wake at a military academy where his body will lie in state until his funeral in in state in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 7, 2013. Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's acting president, said Chavez's remains will be put on permanent display at the Museum of the Revolution, close to the presidential palace where Chavez ruled for 14 years. A state funeral for Chavez attended by some 33 heads of government is scheduled to begin Friday morning. At right is Chavez's daughter Rosa Virginia Chavez and left is Vice-President Nicolas Maduro.

Workers paint a mural that is symbolic of the eyes of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez on the stairs at the El Calvario monument in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 7, 2013. Chavez died on March 5 after a nearly two-year bout with cancer. He was 58.

In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's interim President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Diosdado Cabello, President of Venezuela's National Assembly stand next to the flag-draped coffin containing the body of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez on display during his wake at a military academy where his body will lie in state until his funeral in in state in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Seven days of mourning were declared, all schools were suspended for the week and friendly heads of state were expected for an elaborate funeral Friday.

A poster of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez with messages from supporters such as, "My eternal president," and "I'm Chavist until I die," hangs outside the Military Academy in Caracas, March 7, 2013. Venezuelans flocked to pay tribute to Chavez two days after he died of cancer.

People walk alongside the flag-draped coffin containing the body of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez from the hospital where he died, to a military academy where it will remain until his funeral in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Seven days of mourning were declared, all schools were suspended for the week and friendly heads of state were expected for an elaborate funeral Friday.

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cry outside the military hospital where President Hugo Chavez, aged 58, died on Tuesday in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Seven days of mourning were declared, all school was suspended for the week and friendly heads of state were expected for an elaborate funeral Friday.

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez react to the announcement of his death in Caracas, March 5, 2013. Chavez has died after a two-year battle with cancer, ending the socialist leader's 14-year rule of the South American country, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said in a televised speech on Tuesday.