Koreans turn out in force for Roh

ens of thousands of South Koreans have turned out in Seoul for the funeral of former President Roh Moo-hyun, who died last week.

Top officials attended the ceremony, while crowds filled nearby streets.

Mr Roh dedicated himself to democracy and he would not be forgotten, PM Han Seung-soo said in a eulogy.

Roh Moo-hyun jumped off a cliff last Saturday amid allegations, which he denied, of bribery. His death has caused immense shock in South Korea.

Some supporters say Mr Roh was investigated for political reasons. Authorities fear they may protest and some 15,000 riot police are on stand-by in case of disturbances.

Mr Roh was president between 2003 and 2008, when his term ended. Current President Lee Myung-bak's Grand National Party won the subsequent election, forcing Mr Roh's Uri party from office.

'Hunted by conservatives'

Millions of people have already visited altars around the country to pray for Mr Roh.

Early on Friday the funeral procession left Bongha, the village to which he retired, for the journey to Seoul.

As the hearse arrived in the capital, tens of thousands of supporters wearing yellow - his campaign colour - lined the streets.

The funeral was held at a former palace. Delivering the eulogy, Mr Han said that Mr Roh had "spent his life fighting for human rights, democracy and the end of authoritarianism".

"We will strive to follow your last wishes for reconciliation, unity and a better nation," he said.

Crowds watched the service on a huge television screen. Some booed as President Lee laid a flower for his predecessor.

Some of the former president's supporters blame Mr Lee for the corruption investigation which they believe drove Mr Roh to his death, says the BBC's Chris Hogg, from Seoul.

"I think the former president was hunted by conservatives," said one mourner, housewife Lee Ae-ran, as she paid her respects.

Mr Roh's body will be cremated after the funeral and his ashes taken back to Bongha.

Mr Roh - a human rights lawyer - came from a humble farming family, but rose to the highest office on a platform of clean government and reconciliation with North Korea.

Last month, he was questioned over allegations that he had taken more than $6m in bribes from a wealthy shoe manufacturer, Park Yeon-cha, who was indicted in December on separate bribery and tax evasion charges.

The former president later apologised for the scandal. But last Saturday he was killed in a fall from a mountain near his home, in an apparent suicide.