Ashes Of Zhao Ziyang Buried, 14 Years After Death

The ashes of late reformist leader and former premier, Zhao Ziyang, have finally been buried in a Beijing cemetery – 14 years after his death.

The former general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party opposed the bloody crackdown in Tiananmen Square in 1989, and was purged from the party soon after; he spent the rest of his life under house arrest.

After Zhao's death in 2005, his family kept his ashes at their home, saying the authorities will one day allow them to be buried.

This was finally permitted, a day after the family marked Zhao's 100th birthday on Thursday. Ashes of his wife, Liang Boqi, who died five years ago were also buried.

The simple tombstone carries only the names of the couple and a message to say that their children erected it.

At a ceremony, their daughter, Wang Yannan, said the couple had spent all their lives serving the people.

She said the couple will be dearly remembered.

Security was tight around Zhao's family home on Thursday as the relatives marked the late leader's birthday.