People surround the coffin of the late Lebanese Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiya, Lebanon, July 6, 2010. Hundreds of thousands of people on Tuesday participated in the funeral of Lebanese Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, who died Sunday at the age of 75. Photo: Xinhua

Hundreds of thousands of people on Tuesday participated in the funeral of Lebanese Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, who died Sunday at the age of 75.

People marched for two hours in the streets of Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiya, Hezbollah's stronghold, carrying the coffin of the late ayatollah who was buried later in Imam Hasanen Mosque.

Iranian and other Arab delegations were also present at the funeral that was organized by Hezbollah.

Fadlallah's pictures were everywhere, on the buildings, on the cars, even on the hats of mourners.

Shops were closed for the funeral, as the Lebanese government announced Sunday that Tuesday would be the national mourning day for Fadlallah.

Fadlallah died on Sunday of internal bleeding at Beirut's Bahman Hospital.

Fadlallah was a supporter of Iran's Islamic Revolution and the spiritual leader and mentor of Lebanon's Shiite armed group Hezbollah in the first years after it was formed in 1982.

He was also known for his moderate views on social affairs, especially on women.