Venezuelans bid Chavez good-bye

Weeping supporters lined the streets of Venezuela, mourning the passing of President Hugo Chavez. The 58-year-old populist leader died on Tuesday, March 5, from a respiratory infection following a fourth round of cancer surgery. Citizens gathered to pay homage to a man whose oil-funded socialist revolution pleased the poor but displeased the rich. Losing his almost two-year battle with cancer, Chavez lay in a half-open casket which was paraded from the hospital where he died to a military academy in Caracas. After a 7-hour trip, the coffin of Chavez was positioned in the hall as people chanted, “Chavez livees, the struggle goes on.” New elections will be called within 30 days, even as the government has announced 7 days of mourning.

Read the full story on Rappler.
Other details are on the BBC.