Thousands mourn former Korean president

Mourners in black, heads bowed and shedding tears, gathered in the courtyard of an ancient palace in Seoul for the funeral of ex-president Roh Moo-hyun, nearly a week after he leaped to his death while being investigated for corruption.

Tens of thousands more filled the streets of the South Korean capital and a plaza to watch the funeral on large monitors as riot police sought to prevent any protests by Roh supporters who accuse his conservative political opponents of hounding the liberal ex-leader to his death.