World's heads of state pay last respects to King Hussein

The funeral of Jordan's King Hussein has taken place. Tens of thousands of people lined the route in Amman to the burial site at the Raghadan Palace.

Jordan's new King Abdullah, Hussein's eldest son, led the mourners.

Heads of state and dignitaries from all over the world were there to pay their last respects. Among those to file past the coffin in the Throne Hall of the Raghadan Palace in Amman were US President Bill Clinton, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

Speaking after attending the funeral, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he saw hopes for a "new beginning" for Middle East peace efforts.

Ireland was represented at the funeral by President McAleese and the Minister for the Marine Michael Woods. Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary were accompanied by three of the president's predecessors, George Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

President Yeltsin made an unscheduled departure from the funeral and received medical attention before catching a flight home. He is still recovering from a bleeding stomach ulcer and travelled to Jordan against his doctors' advice.

King Abdullah and his four brothers carried their father's coffin from the king's residence before handing it over to the officers. The funeral procession then left the king's palace outside the city on a nine-mile journey to the main royal compound where he'll be buried.

Hussein's widow Queen Noor, wearing the traditional white headscarf of mourning, watched from the entrance of the residence as the coffin set off for the palace grounds where Hussein will be buried.