Throngs of people line Rabat's streets for King Hassan II's funeral
VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports on Moroccans' reactions to the death of their king Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: Arab-Israeli talks delayed for Moroccan king's funeral Morocco's King Hassan mourned as 'man of world's great men'

July 25, 1999
Web posted at: 11:12 a.m. EDT (1512 GMT)

In this story: Dignitaries come to honor diplomatic ruler New king married after succeeding his father RELATED STORIES, SITES

RABAT, Morocco (CNN) -- Thousands of Moroccans lined the streets of the capital Sunday to pay their final respects to the man they knew as king for much, if not all, of their lives.

King Hassan II's body was being carried past them through Rabat's main streets, from the royal palace to the marble mausoleum where he will be laid to rest alongside his father, King Mohammed V.

Dozens of world leaders filed past Hassan's body at the 18th-century palace on Sunday, paying tribute to the late king and greeting his son and successor, King Mohammed VI.

Hassan's funeral was an emotional affair for Moroccans, many of whom held the king in high regard.

"He meant much more to me than a father," said M'hamed Ibourachen. "He did everything for Morocco."

Along the funeral procession's 3-kilometer (2-mile) route, the king's subjects -- many carrying pictures of the dead monarch -- wept, chanted and prayed. Some fainted and were taken away in waiting ambulances. Many had walked dusty roads from distant villages to find prime spots along the route.

"It was a 20-kilometer (12 mile) walk, but we didn't feel the road," said 38-year-old Aziza, from the town of Temara. "We were too shocked with sadness."

Dignitaries come to honor diplomatic ruler

A long line of dignitaries arrived in Rabat throughout the night and morning, including French President Jacques Chirac, U.S. President Bill Clinton and Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Barak.

They joined Arab leaders King Abdullah of Jordan, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and others to mark the passing of a ruler known for his moderating impact on the world of diplomacy.

Representatives of at least 50 countries were expected to attend the funeral, which was delayed 24 hours to allow time for the world leaders to arrive in Rabat.

Barak, who was expected to hold impromptu meetings with Arab leaders in his new push for peace in the Middle East, was accompanied by President Ezer Weizman and Shimon Peres, a former prime minister and personal friend of Hassan.

Hopes were high that Barak might meet with Syrian President Hafez Assad while in Rabat, but Assad opted to stay in Damascus.

New king married after succeeding his father

After 38 years as Morroco's sovereign, Hassan was the Arab world's longest-ruling leader when died of a heart attack on Friday. He was succeeded on the throne within hours by his oldest son.

Arafat salutes as he enters Rabat's royal palace

Sources said King Mohammed VI was secretly married Friday night, in keeping with Moroccan and Islamic custom. Mohammed's bride was not named.

Government officials would not confirm the report, but said it "entered into the logic of the rules of succession."

Moroccan kings must be physically and mentally fit and married. The late king was married under similar circumstances when his father died in 1961.

Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.

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