BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Thousands of people have hit the streets of Venezuela’s capital Caracas to pay tribute to President Hugo Chavez who died Tuesday at the age of 58.

Chavez’s coffin has set off on a slow procession through the streets of the city. His body is being taken from the military hospital where he died to the city’s military academy. He will lie in state there until his funeral on Friday.

The procession is being led by several high ranking government officials including Vice-President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier, a priest blessed the coffin before its departure, where Chavez’s mother could be seen sobbing at the foot of the casket.

(Source: CNTV.cn)