Latin American leaders visit Chavez's coffin

Reuters

by Reuters

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Leaders from across Latin America arrived in Venezuela on Thursday (March 7) to pay respects to the late Hugo Chavez.

Cuban President Raul Castro was among international delegations visiting Chavez's coffin.

A period of mourning has been extended for the leader who died earlier this week after a two-year battle with cancer.

Around 30 heads of state will attend his state funeral on Friday (March 8).

Huge crowds have continued gathering at the military academy where Chavez lays in state.

Many are spending hours queuing in order to catch a glimpse of the leader's coffin.

Officials say after the funeral Chavez will be embalmed and displayed at a military museum.

Acting President Nicolas Maduro said it would help keep alive the leader's self-declared socialist revolution.