Mourners pay tribute to PM who died last week

Mourners paid tribute Tuesday to Ivory Coast Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who died last week only three months before he was due to be the ruling party's presidential candidate.

President Alassane Ouattara, who had considered Coulibaly his heir apparent, presided over the ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.

He was joined by Senegal's President Macky Sall.

The ceremony was broadcast live on national television and ended with Ouattara presenting the Ivorian flag to Coulibaly's widow.

Coulibaly, wo was 61, will be buried Friday in his hometown in northern Ivory Coast, officials said.