World leaders, athletes and left-wing celebrities gathered at a music-filled state funeral honouring Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez today, with multitudes waiting outside the venue.

Venezuela’s opposition says it will not attend the swearing-in of Hugo Chavez’s anointed successor as interim president.

Barack Obama won the support of some of the biggest backers of his former rival Hillary Clinton today as she finally signalled that the end of her bid for the Democratic nomination was near.