Lee Kuan Yew: Thousands queue to view founder lying in state
The procession carried the coffin of Lee Kuan Yew from his official residence to Parliament House, reports the BBC's Leisha Chi
Thousands of people in Singapore are queuing to pay tribute to late statesman Lee Kuan Yew as he lies in state in parliament.
His body was moved by gun carriage on Wednesday morning from his official residence and through the city.
Mr Lee, who died in hospital on Monday aged 91, led the city-state to independence and served as its prime minister for 31 years.
Singapore is observing a week of mourning ahead of Sunday's funeral.
A new breed of orchid named after Lee Kuan Yew is displayed by his coffin in Parliament House
Huge queues have formed in the area around Parliament HouseMr Lee's body has been resting at the Istana - the compound which houses the president's official residence and the prime minister's office - for a private family mourning period. Thousands have already left flowers and message at its gates and signed books of condolence.
His flag-draped coffin, accompanied by representatives of the military and government, was then carried from the Istana through the main shopping and business districts, before arriving at Parliament House.
The BBC's Tessa Wong says the mood was expectant, even a little festive, along the Bras Basah Road thoroughfare, where hundreds of people - including schoolchildren holding handmade signs stating "RIP Mr Lee" - had gathered by the roadside and on rooftops.
But as traffic cleared and the gun carriage rolled into view, a hush descended on the crowd. A few threw bouquets of flowers on the road or shouted goodbye. Several looked teary-eyed.
The queue of people waiting to pay their respects to Mr Lee snaked for kilometres through the city centre
Many grieved and offered prayers at Mr Lee's Singapore flag-draped coffin in Parliament HouseMany organisations and businesses are giving employees time off to pay their respects. By midday, huge queues had formed in the area around parliament. The first in line had begun queueing the night before.
Visiting hours have been extended until midnight in response to the turnout.
"LKY is the founder of our country. It is a no-brainer that we have to pay respect," bank executive Zhang Wei Jie, 36, told AFP.
On Tuesday, Singapore's current prime minster, Mr Lee's son Lee Hsien Loong, thanked all who had paid tribute, via his Facebook page.
He also announced that a new orchid - Singapore's national flower - had been named after his father. The orchid, named Aranda Lee Kuan Yew, is on display at Parliament House.
Global admiration
Lee Kuan Yew - widely known as LKY - oversaw Singapore's independence from Britain and separation from Malaysia and co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore since 1959.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Singaporeans for their messages of support
Thousands have already paid tribute at the Istana
Lee Kuan Yew's death sparked an outpouring of grief in the city-state he led to prosperityHe was the architect of Singapore's transformation from a dependent, port city to a stable, prosperous independent state and a global financial hub.
However, he also introduced tight control. One of his legacies was a clampdown on the press - tight restrictions that remain in place today - while measures such as corporal punishment have been criticised as repressive.
Dissent - and political opponents - were ruthlessly quashed. Today, PAP remains firmly in control. There are currently six opposition lawmakers in parliament.
He was widely admired by world leaders, but criticised what he saw as the overly liberal approach of the US and the West, saying it had "come at the expense of orderly society".
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