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| Ford funeral begins in Washington |
| The funeral ceremony is under way in Washington DC for the 38th US President, Gerald Ford, who died last week aged 93.
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 2-January-2007
10:38:25 AM |
| President George W Bush will deliver a speech at the service in the city's National Cathedral.
Mr Ford's body arrived at the cathedral from Capitol Hill, where he had been lying in state.
Mr Ford became president after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, and served from 1974 to 1977.
He will be buried near his presidential library in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday.
Tuesday has been designated as a national day of mourning.
Mr Ford died on 26 December in California. He lay in state in Washington's Capitol building from Saturday until Tuesday morning.
'Integrity'
A 21-gun salute rang out and a military band played as Mr Ford's coffin was carried down the steps of the Capitol and driven off to the National Cathedral.
The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says the streets were lined with people as his motorcade went past.
Those paying tribute include President Bush, his father George Bush Snr, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
The list of honorary pallbearers - who escort the coffin but do not carry it - includes Vice-President Dick Cheney, former Defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Mr Ford's running mate in his failed 1976 presidential campaign, ex-Senator Bob Dole.
Jimmy Carter, who defeated Mr Ford in that election, is also attending the service.
On Monday President Bush and his wife Laura were among thousands of people who paid their respects to his flag-draped coffin.
Mr Ford's wife, Betty, was also present, as were the couple's children, who spent time talking to mourners as they filed past the casket.
Mr Ford took office as public trust in the White House plummeted in the wake of the Watergate scandal and as the US eyed defeat in Vietnam.
Many mourners at the Capitol remembered his most difficult decision - pardoning Mr Nixon of any crimes committed during his presidency, a decision analysts say probably cost him the 1976 election.
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