The body of Laurent Kabila, the assassinated president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been buried in the capital, Kinshasa.

Security was tight throughout the city during the funeral and the soldiers guarding the service were not Congolese.

The armed guards came from Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia – all allies of Kabila in Congo's civil war.

Kabila's state funeral
Kabila's state funeral

Kabila's white-marble casket was covered by the Congolese flag – blue with gold stars.

It's not clear why a bodyguard killed Kabila. There is speculation that the Congolese army was behind the shooting.

The assassin was killed almost immediately after he shot the president.

Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila

Kabila's son Joseph has been named interim leader of the strife-torn country. He was raised in Tanzania and Uganda and doesn't speak Lingala, the language most people use in Kinshasa. He didn't speak at the service.

Kabila came to office in 1997 after overthrowing Mobutu Sese Seko. His rule began with promises of higher standards of living and democratic reform but soon war broke out involving six African nations. The war continues.

One of the first priorities for Joseph Kabila will be to bring the fighting to an end. None of the countries involved can afford to sustain the war, which has killed tens of thousands.

The fears of instability are so great, and tension is so high, that officials warned people not to be alarmed when a 21-gun salute went off during the funeral on Tuesday.