Thursday, April 7 2005 20:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vatican City: World leaders began arriving today (Apr 7, 2005) for the funeral of Pope John Paul II, creating a security nightmare in a city already overwhelmed by millions of pilgrims and a diplomatic headache for the Vatican.

Rome's second airport, Ciampino, was closed to commercial flights from 10:00 am (1330 IST) today until midnight tomorrow (Apr 8, 2005), while private planes were barred from flying over the city.

Police said cars would be banned throughout Rome all day tomorrow, when the pope is to be buried in the Vatican after an open-air mass attended by some 200 world political and religious leaders in Saint Peter's Square.

While one cardinal said the vast outpouring of emotion by up to four million pilgrims had sent a message to world leaders to work for peace, the attendance of at least two presidents at the funeral sparked discord.

China said it would boycott the ceremony in protest at the invitation to President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, the island State which the Government in Beijing regards as its territory but which is recognised by the Vatican.

Chen left Taipei for Rome telling reporters, "I represent the Taiwan Government and 23 million people on a visit to our only diplomatic ally in Europe."

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was in Rome despite a ban on his travelling to members of the European Union, imposed after he won a disputed election three years ago.

US President George W Bush flew into Rome late yesterday and went immediately to pay his last respects to the pope, an outspoken critic of the US-led war in Iraq.