Job Serve Africa News
Up to date news feeds: African News | Business News | Sports News
Kennedy ceremonies get under way
Mourners have held a family Mass to commemorate Edward Kennedy, at the start of three days of ceremonies following the death of the US senator.
Mr Kennedy's body was then being driven to Boston, where his coffin will be placed for public viewing ahead of a memorial service and a funeral Mass.
Mr Kennedy's death from cancer on Tuesday prompted a flood of tributes from the US and around the world.
He will be buried on Saturday evening at the Arlington National Cemetery.
A large group of family members attended Thursday's private Mass at the family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
Later, people lined the route as a hearse carrying Mr Kennedy's coffin left in a motorcade on the 70-mile (113km) trip to Boston.
'Extraordinary good'
The motorcade was due to drive past some of the Boston sites linked to the senator's life, before delivering his coffin to the John F Kennedy presidential library and museum.
After the public have paid their respects, there will be an invitation-only memorial service at the library on Friday evening.
On Saturday, President Barack Obama is expected to address a funeral Mass for Mr Kennedy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston.
Mr Kennedy will be buried on Saturday next to his brothers, John F Kennedy and Robert F Kennedy, at the Arlington national cemetery in northern Virginia.
In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era.
The charismatic senator had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968.
In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy".
Succession talks
Just outside the family compound in Hyannis Port, David Nylan said people had been leaving flowers by his holiday home since Mr Kennedy's death.
"The Kennedys and Hyannis and the Cape, they just kind of go hand in hand," he said.
"They're just a great family from around here, and people respect what they've done in office, and the good things they've done.
"Of course, they've had some black marks against them, but who hasn't?"
Meanwhile, discussions have begun over how to replace Mr Kennedy in the Senate.
Under current Massachusetts law, his seat could remain vacant for several months until a special election to choose his successor.
Senate Democrats fear that if the seat remains empty for too long, the party will struggle to pass a crucial healthcare reform that President Obama is hoping to push through.
There have been calls for a change in the law that would allow the Massachusetts governor to install an interim senator to fill the seat until the special election takes place.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has said he supports the plan.
source: bbc
Posted on Thursday 27th August 2009
