1 Jan 2010

Thousands attend President's funeral

8:25 am on 1 January 2010

Thousands of people have attended the funeral in Indonesia of former President Abdurrahman Wahid who died on Wednesday, aged 69.

In an address at the funeral, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono praised his contribution to Indonesia's transition to democracy.

He was the first elected president after the end of the Suharto regime.

A week of national mourning has been declared. Flags will be flown at half mast across the country.

The BBC reports Wahid was removed from office in 2001 over unproven allegations of corruption, but remained politically active until his final years.