Visitors pay tribute to a sand sculpture of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the Golden Sea beach in Puri, about 65 kilometers away from the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar, April 9, 2013. (Xinhua/Stringer)

 British Prime Minister David Cameron led Parliament in a special session of tributes to Margaret Thatcher on Wednesday, describing the divisive former leader as an "extraordinary" woman who had revived the country's fortunes.

The Iron Lady's harshest critics stayed away in a sign of her bitterly disputed legacy, but the Houses of Commons and Lords were mostly packed full of lawmakers recalled from their holidays after Thatcher died on Monday aged 87.

"Let this be her epitaph, that she made this country great again," intoned Cameron, a fellow Conservative.

Supporters say Thatcher's free-market reforms made Britain stronger, while critics complain her economic policies and battles with the trade unions destroyed millions of lives.

But opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband acknowledged her impact on Britain.

"Whatever your view of her, Margaret Thatcher was a unique and towering figure," he said in answer to Cameron's comments.

Thatcher's son Mark said his twin sister Carol and the rest of their family had been "overwhelmed" by messages of support they had received from around the globe. Their mother died at London's Ritz Hotel after a stroke.

Mark said that Thatcher would have been "greatly honored" by Queen Elizabeth II's decision to attend her funeral next Wednesday, a rare honor from the monarch only accorded to Winston Churchill.

The ceremony will be held at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Cameron said her casket would also be draped with the British flag as it was transported on a gun carriage to the cathedral, saying "This will be a fitting salute to a great prime minister," he said.

The parliamentary session was largely respectful but several of her biggest critics boycotted the debates.

"Her impact and influence is indisputable, but her legacy is too bitter to warrant this claim to national mourning," said one Labour lawmaker who stayed away, John Healey.

Firebrand left-wing lawmaker George Galloway also said he would stay away from what he derided as a "state-organized eulogy".

Security for the funeral is likely to be extremely tight with fears of disruption by Irish republican dissidents and far-left groups. Police are also reportedly bracing for a possible "lone wolf" attack.

Concerns about potential violence rose after trouble erupted at several street parties celebrating her death on Monday night in London, Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow.

Many world figures are expected to attend Thatcher's funeral, although a spokesman for former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said he would not be among them because his health was too frail.

Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair and his wife were among the first confirmed guests to the ceremony, which will be followed by a private cremation.

Thatcher's ashes will be laid next to those of her husband Denis, who died in 2003, at the Royal Chelsea Hospital.

AFP