Rauf Denktash Funeral Cypress Turkish
NICOSIA, Cyprus - Turkey's political and military leaders joined thousands of residents in the northern half of divided Cyprus on Tuesday at a funeral service for former Turkish Cypriot leader and staunch separatist Rauf Denktash.
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were among mourners filing past Denktash's coffin at the presidential palace where it lied in state for two days to pay their last respects before his burial in the Turkish Cypriot part of the island's capital.
Thousands of mourners lined the cortege's route, many wearing scarves and buttons bearing the late leader's image and breaking into applause as the coffin, escorted by a full military honour guard, drove past. Denktash posters were on numerous storefronts.
"I feel like I lose my dad," Turkish Cypriot mourner Salih Kayim told the Associated Press. "We will always miss him...we thank him because he gave us freedom and we're living under our own flag," said the 39-year-old father of two small daughters.
"He was a great leader. We won't forget him, never," said Yusuf Mulladayilar, 54.
Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias said he called the current Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to convey his condolences and would also contact Denktash's son, Serdar.
"Denktash was steadfast to his vision for partition," Christofias said. "We can't agree naturally with Rauf Denktash's vision, that's reality, but it would be wrong at this time to make generalizations and accuse Denktash."
Gul, Turkey's parliamentary speaker Cemil Cicek, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu were expected to attend the funeral, according to Turkey's NTV television.
It was not known if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who underwent surgery about six weeks ago, would also attend.
Thousands of Turkish Cypriot mourners lined up behind top Turkish officials in the streets of Nicosia yesterday as soldiers carried late leader Rauf Denktaş’s body for a final farewell.
People had gathered outside the presidential palace in the early hours for an official ceremony in honor of the former leader who died after a long illness Jan. 13 at the age of 87. Tears flowed as the gun carriage carrying Denktaş’s flag-draped coffin passed by the mourners, many of whom clutched pictures of the veteran politician. The crowd applauded as the late leader’s coffin was carried through the
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/14/2589387/turkish-cypriots-mourn-rauf-denktashs.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.cyprusexpat.co.uk/blog/read/id:1047/rauf-denktas-to-receive-state-funeral-in-north-cyprus
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