Dramatic exit: Heads of state gather for Hugo Chavez's funeral

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LIVE VIDEO — Watch live coverage from Venezuelan state TV as thousands of people and several world leaders attend a Caracas.By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC NewsThe funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez drew leaders from five continents to Caracas on Friday, including staunch allies such as Cuba’s Raul Castro and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The guests, who also included actor Sean Penn, converged on the military academy to pay tribute to the ex-paratrooper and socialist revolutionary whose 14-year rule of Venezuela ended this week with his death from cancer.Boris Vergara / EPAIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking upon his arrival in Caracas, is one of the heads of state attending Hugo Chavez's funeral Friday.Dozens of heads of state attended the service, drawing cheers from crowds of Chavistas as they stepped out of limos and were announced before being led down a flag-lined red carpet to their seats.

Representing the United States – one of Chavez’s favorite targets -- were two Democratic politicians, New York Congressman Gregory Meeks and former Massachusetts Congressman William Delahunt, the Associated Press reported.

"My deepest sympathies go out to the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela,” Meeks said in a statement.

“Venezuela is an important nation to the Western Hemisphere. I remain committed to building the relationship between our nations. As always, I stand in continued support of the Venezuelan people especially at this time of mourning."

Chavez died Tuesday after a nearly two-year battle with a pelvic tumor that had him shuttling between Venezuela and Cuba for medical treatment. His illness didn’t prevent him from being elected to a fourth term but he was never sworn in.Tens of thousands of grieving Venezuelans lined up for miles in the streets of Caracas to pay their respects to the open coffin of Hugo Chavez.  ITV's Matt Frei reports.  Vice President Nicolas Maduro was to be sworn in Friday ahead of a special election to be held within 30 days. The move is controversial with some saying the speaker of the National Assembly and not Chavez’s hand-picked successor should serve as interim president under the constitution.

Chavez was a hugely popular, if polarizing, figure in Venezuela, beloved by the oil-rich nation’s poor, who relied on the government for food, jobs and housing.

Sobbing, they filled the streets of Caracas for Wednesday six-mile funeral profession and waited in line for hours to see his body lying in state at the military academy, where it will remain for a week.

Officials announced Thursday that Chavez’s body will go on permanent display in a glass tomb at a military museum.

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This story was originally published on Fri Mar 8, 2013 6:18 AM EST

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