Mourners from all corners of Uruguay bid farewell to former leader Jose Mujica

Supporters walk behind the casket of Uruguay’s former President Jose Mujica. Picture: Santiago Mazzarovich/AP

Crowds poured into the streets of Uruguay’s capital on Wednesday to bid a poignant farewell to former president Jose Mujica, a guerrilla fighter-turned-pioneering leader who became a hero of the Latin American left.

Thousands of people mourning the death of their former leader, affectionately known as “Pepe”, joined the procession as Mr Mujica’s flag-covered coffin, borne on a gun carriage, made its way through Montevideo toward the country’s parliament over the course of three hours.