Leaders from neighbouring countries attend Vajpayee's funeral

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Sri Lanka's Acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday arrived in national Delhi to pay their last respects to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

Pakistan's acting information minister Syed Zafar Ali is also expected to arrive here later today.

Bangladesh remembers Vajpayee for his contribution to the Liberation War and the strong support he extended to the people of Bangladesh, Ali told reporters after his arrival here.

Thousands of people joined the funeral procession of Vajpayee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking behind the cortege.

BJP chief Amit Shah, several union ministers and party leaders also walked sombrely behind the cortege as it made its way to the Rashtriya Smirti Sthal where the last rites would be performed.

A huge crowd of people showered petals at the funeral procession and jostled to get a glimpse of the former prime minister.