The body of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin lies in state in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow April 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

Hundreds of Russians paid their last respect to the late former president Boris Yeltsin on Tuesday in a prestigious church in central Moscow, ahead of the funeral slated for Wednesday (Apr 25).

Flowers in hands and queued in lines, Russians mourned the first president of the country covered by the national flag and lying in an open coffin placed in the central hall of the Christ the Savior cathedral.

His families, including his wife Naina Yeltsin, 75, sit beside the casket and were in tears.

Died of heart failure on Monday at 76, Yeltsin is survived by Naina, two daughters, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The state, started in the afternoon, lasted till Tuesday night.

His once counterparts or rivals such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev were expected to attend the funeral scheduled at noon, Wednesday.

Russian President and Yelstin's successor Vladimir Putin has declared April 25 a day of national mourning for him, who will be buried at Moscow's historic Novodevichye cemetery.

Hu sends condolences to Putin over Yeltsin's death

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday sent condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the death of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

In a message to Putin, Hu expressed his deep condolences and extended his sincere sympathies to Putin, the Russian government and people and Yeltsin's family.

Describing Yeltsin as a close friend of China, Hu said the traditional friendship between China and Russia displayed new vitality during Yeltsin's presidency.

While Yeltsin was Russian president, the two countries established a strategic cooperative partnership, resolved their border issues left over from history and enjoyed rapid progress in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, Hu said.

The outstanding contributions Yeltsin made to the development of the Sino-Russian friendship will go down in the annals of the friendly relations between the two countries, Hu said.

Yeltsin, who became Russia's first elected president in 1991 and transferred power to Putin on Dec. 31, 1999, died on Monday at the age of 76.

Editor: Wing