Nation mourns Austrian president

The former Austrian ambassador to the United States had served as head of state of his central European nation for 12 years, trying in vain to raise the profile of the largely ceremonial post.

Klestil, who went from humble origins to highest office, was hospitalised Monday and died late Tuesday at the age of 71 of multiple organ failure.

He had been scheduled to hand over office to successor Heinz Fischer on Thursday.

His family and senior government and opposition officials, including Fischer, gathered at his wake in the Hofburg presidential palace in Vienna at midday (1000 GMT) on Wednesday.

Soldiers carried Klestil's coffin, draped in the red and white Austrian flag, into a rose-filled state room where it will remain until Friday to allow the public to pay their last respects.