Cuba’s Raul Castro to attend funeral for ‘invincible’ Chavez

Cuba’s President Raul Castro has arrived in Caracas to attend the funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, due to take place on March 8. Castro paid tribute to the Socialist leader, saying he died “invincible” and “victorious”.

Some 30 world leaders are expected at the service – including incumbent Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and his predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolivian President Evo Morales and Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner arrived in Caracas on March 6.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is making the trip to pay his respects in person. The United States, of which Chavez was a vocal critic, is also sending a delegation to the ceremony.

Chavez, who died on March 5, is lying in state at the Fort Tiuna military academy in the Venezuelan capital.

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