Fiery funeral for Hugo Chavez

Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela

President Hugo Chavez was lauded as a modern-day reincarnation of Latin American liberator Simon Bolivar and a disciple of Cuba’s Fidel Castro at a fiery, foot-stomping state funeral Friday that at times smacked of a political rally as presidents, princes and left-wing glitterati looked on.

Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, emotionally eulogized the fallen leader at the military academy where the funeral took place, his voice booming over Chavez’s flag-draped casket as he pledged eternal loyalty.

“Here we are, Comandante, your men, on their feet,” Maduro shouted, government officials rising behind him. “All your men and women ... loyal until beyond death.”

But all was not peace and harmony in a country deeply divided by Chavez’s 14 years in power. The opposition coalition announced it would boycott Maduro’s swearing-in later Friday, calling it unconstitutional. The dispute foreshadows a bitter presidential campaign to come, with elections mandated within 30 days of Chavez’s death.

The funeral began with Venezuela’s national youth orchestra singing the national anthem, led by famed conductor Gustavo Dudamel. A government-allied congressman later belted out cowboy songs from Chavez’s native Barinas state.

In the funeral hall, more than 30 political leaders including Cuba’s Raul Castro, Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stood at attention before Chavez’s flag-draped coffin, which was closed for the ceremony.

Television cameras captured Hollywood star Sean Penn in attendance at the funeral, while the Rev. Jesse Jackson preached rapprochement between his country and Venezuela.