Mourners pack stadium to bid Nkurunziza farewell

The late leader's casket is given a military salute

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Mourners dressed in white have packed the stadium where the funeral of Burundi's late leader Pierre Nkurunziza is taking place, two weeks after his sudden death.

His body was escorted under heavy security from a hospital in the central city of Karuzi, with thousands of people heeding a call to line the road towards the ceremony in the capital Gitega.

The late president's widow, Denise Nkurunziza, looks on

AFP news agency has photos of events there, where social distancing was not observed.

Mourners dressed in white as a mark of respect

Burundi's government said he died from a heart attack, but there is speculation he had coronavirus as his wife had been ill with the disease.

Mr Nkrunziza died shortly after an election won by Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was sworn in last week. The former president was accused of serious human rights abuses.

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Pierre Nkurunziza funeral