WORLD: Obama to speak at Kennedy funeral

President Barack Obama is to deliver a eulogy at the funeral of Senator Edward Kennedy on Saturday.

He will break from his family holiday on Martha's Vineyard to attend the private service in Boston.

The veteran Democrat, the last of the Kennedy brothers, will be buried later at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia close to the grave of his brother Robert F. Kennedy, the former attorney- general assassinated in 1968.

Former President John F. Kennedy's grave, marked by an eternal flame, lies a short distance away.

Mr Obama, who said he was "heartbroken" over Kennedy's death at the age of 77 after a year-long battle with brain cancer, signed a proclamation that flags at the White House and all US public buildings will fly at half-mast until sunset on Sunday to honour the veteran politician.

The Kennedy family said the funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston will be private. The burial at Arlington Cemetery will also be closed to the public.

Kennedy qualifies for burial at Arlington because he was a sitting senator at the time of his death. He also served in the army during the Korean War. A public memorial service to celebrate his life will be held later in the year.

A hearse will today take the senator's body on the two-hour journey from his family home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston where it will lie in repose until the funeral. The public will be allowed to view the coffin — ringed by an honour guard from the army, navy and air force —today and tomorrow.

A Roman Catholic priest who was with Kennedy when he died at home said family members had been summoned to his bedside to say farewell.

The Rev Patrick Tarrant said the senator's wife Vickie and children, Kara, Teddy Jnr and Patrick, wept as they said a final prayer knowing he was "ready to go". "The truth is, he had expressed to his family that he did want to go," said the Rev  Tarrant. "Of course they were aware that in the very sick, the sense of hearing is the last thing to go. So, whatever is said around the sick bed is always heard by the patient. They let him know how much he was loved and cared for and missed."

John Kerry, the former Democratic presidential candidate, emerged from the house to say that Senator Kennedy's widow and children were "very, very grateful" for the condolences expressed worldwide. He added: "There is a very beautiful and personal private vigil taking place. The Senator is there laying at rest. It's very spiritual and about as beautiful as it can be."