Thousands line streets to mourn dead king in Tonga

[March 27, 2012]  NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga (AP) -- A thousand men have taken turns carrying the pagoda that held the coffin of Tonga's late monarch, King George Tupou V, at his funeral ceremony.

Swaths of purple and black material formed a bright bow running from the countryside to the cities of the Pacific nation as people mourned.

That so many people took the care to adorn their homes and businesses is testament to the reverence people here give the idea of the monarchy, even after Tupou ceded many powers in 2008 to usher in a new era of democracy.

He died earlier this month and was succeeded by his brother, Tupou VI.

The centerpiece of the funeral was the procession carrying the pagoda. The men marched through about 5,000 children in the capital, Nuku'alofa.

[Associated Press; By NICK PERRY]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.