Venezuelans bid farewell to Chavez

 　　CARACAS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of Venezuelan mourners took to the streets of Caracas Wednesday, as the coffin² carrying the body of late President Hugo Chavez proceeded through the city.

　　The funeral march starts from the Military Hospital in Caracas, where Chavez spent his last moments fighting for his life.

　　The march is scheduled to reach the Military Academy of Venezuela Bolivarian Army, where a tribute is planned to be paid to the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution.

　　Chavez died Tuesday at 16:25 local time (20:55 GMT) after struggling for nearly two years against a severe cancer in the pelvic area.

　　Regardless of the harsh sunshine, tens of thousands of Venezuelans dressed in red shirts underneath³ black and crowded arterial roads surrounding the hospital for the ceremony.

　　The tribute began with a discreet⁴ Catholic religious ceremony at the main gate of the hospital, followed by the a marching band playing the song "beloved country" by singer Ali Primera, the last song Chavez sang in public

　　Hostesses and the presidential honor guard led the wooden coffin with the remains⁵ of Chavez to cross the Venezuelan capital.

　　During the tour, sad faces of men and women were seen everywhere along with inconsolable crying as if it were the death of a close relative. Other attendees sang protest songs, shouted slogans, the national anthem⁶ or the name of Chavez.

　　"Chavez the Pantheon, along with Simon" shouted a crowd in reference to the National Pantheon, a building in the center of the capital where the remains of Simon Bolivar, hero of the independence of Venezuela, were placed.

　　The coffin was placed by several soldiers on the roof of a vehicle decorated with white flowers. Ahead of the car were several motorcycles clearing the way while the crowd was pressing behind. Some ministers seemed to be holding the urn¹.

　　Venezuelan Vice⁷ President Nicolas Maduro wore a jacket with the tricolor of the national flag, accompanying Bolivian President Evo Morales and his partner, the National Attorney General of the Cilia Flores.

　　Tarek El Aissami, governor of the central state of Aragua, and Rafael Ramirez, Minister of Mines and Petroleum⁸, also participated since leaving the mortal body of Chavez, who had ruled Venezuela for 14 years, re-elected again for another six years.

　　Chavez's supporters will accompany the hearse to Los Heroes and carry out a military parade and other tributes along the iconic avenue two miles long and 700 meters wide.

　　The remains of the president will reach finally the Military Academy at Fort Tiuna military town of Caracas, where he will be received by the military high command and the executive cabinet.

　　More than 10 leaders from different countries have confirmed their attendance for Chavez's funeral to be held in Caracas on Friday.

1 urn   

n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮

参考例句：

• The urn was unearthed entire.这只瓮出土完整无缺。
• She put the big hot coffee urn on the table and plugged it in.她将大咖啡壶放在桌子上,接上电源。

2 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

3 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

4 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。