Greece mourns ex-PM Costas Simitis

Greeks bid farewell to former prime minister Costas Simitis, a reformist praised for steering the country into the European Union's single currency in 2001.

Simitis, who served as prime minister from 1996-2004, and a former leader of the once powerful PASOK socialist party, died at the age of 88.

Thousands gathered outside the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral for the funeral service, while soldiers stood at attention and saluted as the coffin entered the cathedral.

State officials, politicians, academics and Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides were among those gathered at the state funeral, following four days of national mourning.

Under Simitis' leadership, Greece cut down on public debt and government spending to qualify for the euro zone and successfully bid to host the 2004 Olympics.

He also facilitated Cyprus, a historical ally of Greece, to join the European Union in 2004.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou delivered eulogies at the funeral service held by Archbishop of Greece Ieronymos.

The funeral procession then passed through the capital’s streets, pausing in front of the parliament building.

People lined the streets to watch, applauding as the coffin passed.

Simitis was buried at Athens First Cemetery next to PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou, and where other prominent politicians and figures have been laid to rest.

The public broadcaster showed images of a large crowd led by Sakellaropoulou and senior PASOK party officials escorting the hearse on foot from the Cathedral to an Athens cemetery, a 30-minute walk.

However, Simitis' tenure was not without controversy. Economists traced back the roots of the financial meltdown to graft and corruption during Simitis’ government and earlier and some questioned his handling of Greece's joining the euro zone.