Former Czech President Vaclav Havel mourned
A portrait of late Czech statesman Vaclav Havel stands next to candles at the Wenceslas square in Prague, Czech Republic. (Dec. 21, 2011) Credit: AP
Thousands of people followed Czech ex-President Vaclav Havel's casket yesterday as it was transported through the narrow streets of Prague, opening three days of official mourning ahead of a state funeral on Friday.
People jammed cobblestone streets in the city center as Havel's plain wooden coffin was loaded into a black Mercedes hearse for a short journey across the Vltava river and up the hill toward Hradcany Castle, the seat of the president.
The early-morning procession crossed through medieval streets and the Charles Bridge, built in 1357, one of the city's prime attractions for tourists. Funeral wreaths sent by Havel's family hung on the sides of the vehicle, which was followed by Havel's widow Dagmar Havlova and his brother, Ivan.
Havel, who died in his sleep Sunday at the age of 75 after a long illness, was a symbol for opposing totalitarian regimes in the former Soviet bloc and helped lead the nation to democracy following the Velvet Revolution that overthrew communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989. He was president for almost 13 years and counted figures including Nelson Mandela and Lech Walesa as friends.
"This reminds me of the atmosphere of 1989 when people gathered to end Communism," said Zdenek Lauschman, a 52-year-old teacher, who stood watching the hearse drive away. "He's cut from a different cloth than other politicians."
The streets around the funeral procession were lined with Czech flags, with some mourners in the procession carrying candles and photos of Havel in the cold morning light. A sign in the crowd read: "Truth and Love Will Triumph over Lies and Hatred," one of Havel's best-known citations. Black flags hung from state buildings as church bells tolled along the route and crowds applauded the hearse.
Havel's casket was transferred under cloudy skies to a horse-drawn military caisson and accompanied by an honor guard and military band for the final ride through the castle grounds before being carried into the Gothic-Renaissance Vladislav Hall to lie in state until the funeral. President Vaclav Klaus accompanied the procession into the castle.
The state funeral at the castle which dates back to the 9th century is the largest of its kind in more than 30 years, with leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former president Bill Clinton expected to attend.
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