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Thousands of mourners thronged roads Thursday in Indonesia's East Java to say farewell to the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, a beloved cleric who reached out to religious minorities in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

A memorial service was led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before the burial in the former president's East Java hometown of Jombang, where about 10,000 supporters prayed over his remains.

The televised service began a week of national mourning during which flags will be flown at half-staff. Some official New Year's Eve celebrations were canceled.

There was a massive outpouring of sentiment for a man whose open style, impromptu joke telling and naps during his own speeches endeared him to the masses. Weeping admirers lit candles and incense and said prayers at vigils held at mosques, churches, temples, schools and landmarks.

Gus Dur ruled for nearly two years of tumult as Indonesia embarked on a path to democracy in 1999 after three decades of dictatorship. A democratic reformer and proponent of moderate Islam, he ultimately was unable to implement his ambitious ideas amid the financial and political chaos that dominated during his presidency.

A White House statement said Gus Dur was "a pivotal figure" in Indonesia's transition to free government who "will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance."

During his short term, from October 1999 to July 2001, Gus Dur led a broad coalition of unity but was eventually impeached after firing Yudhoyono, then a Cabinet minister, for refusing to declare a state of emergency when the army positioned tanks facing the Presidential Palace.

The former president had been in the intensive care unit of Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta for the past week. He died during surgery to remove a blood clot in his heart, said professor Yusuf Misbach, head of his medical team. The 69-year-old's condition had deteriorated because of complications with diabetes and kidney failure, he said.

Gus Dur had struggled with illness for years and was confined to a wheelchair. Nearly blind, he also suffered serious kidney problems and diabetes.

Presidential spokesman Julian Pasha noted Wahid's widespread popularity, saying "we lost one of our greatest figures, who was very much loved by people from all walks of life."

AP