Hezbollah-run television joined Lebanese and foreign networks in a live broadcast yesterday of Pope John Paul II's funeral from the Vatican. The al-Manar television station, run by the pro-Iranian Shiite Hezbollah movement, conducted a live show with a Catholic priest talking about Christianity and Islam and the late Pope's call for co-existence among religions.

"We are a television which addresses all religious sects and Pope John II is a high-ranking religious figure and it is our duty to broadcast it live in memory of this great man of peace," Ali Haj, al-Manar's news editor told reporters.

"This is an event that involves millions of Christians around the world. We will be airing special programs on the pope's journey and how the elections of his successor will take place," Haj added.

Meanwhile, Beirut's Christian churches were full yesterday with worshippers who came to pay tribute to the late pope and light candles.

In the nearby mosques, Moslem preachers also paid tribute to the late Pope during Friday prayers, describing him as a "great man of peace and co-existence."

Koranic versus echoed throughout Beirut as the Pope was laid to rest, while both Moslem and Christian schools across Lebanon closed for the day.

In eastern Beirut a group of Christian and Moslem students gathered to observe a minute's silence near a Christian church. (DPA)