MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Nestor Kirchner is to be buried at a private ceremony in Rio Gallegos

Hundreds of thousands queued for the last farewell to the former president

Former Argentine President Néstor Kirchner's funeral service is to continue until 10:00am Friday, the time at which his remains will be transferred to Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz province, Patagonia where the burial is set to take place. Kirchner is to be buried at the local cemetery and the family will hold a private ceremony.

The wake service continued during the night, for the doors of the Government House in Buenos Aires were open for anyone to enter the premises to give the former president a last goodbye. At 10:00am, Kirchner's corpse will be moved to Santa Cruz province.

A “private family ceremony” will be held at the local cemetery, where President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and both her children Máximo and Florencia will be present, said an official release.

As in Buenos Aires a massive turnout is also anticipated in Rio Gallegos with a caravan of vehicles following the casket and family from the airport to the local cemetery to the Kirchner family’s pantheon.

Meanwhile during the whole day hundred of thousands of people queued in Buenos Aires to give former president Kirchner the last farewell at the Latinamerican Liberators Hall where President Cristina Fernández and both her children, Florencia and Máximo, as well as other family members stood at the wake ceremony.

Latin American heads of state arrived at the presidential house and expressed their condolences to the President. Ministers, government officials and Kirchner's family members were also present, along with ex-football star Diego Maradona. After almost twelve hours, Fernández de Kirchner left the wake with her children and headed to the presidential residence in Olivos, Buenos Aires province.

Half-mast flags and signs that read “Néstor forever! Cristina, be strong!” were seen everywhere in the country as people took to the streets, lured by Kirchner's funeral service. Anyone is allowed to enter the Government House to see the former president for the last time,

On Wednesday night, the President and her son Máximo flew from Santa Cruz province to Buenos Aires City, and the remains of her now deceased husband were carried in a different plane.