WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) -- Heads of state and other representatives from 142 countries were arriving in Washington Wednesday for the state funeral of President Ronald Reagan.
Eastern Europe and the republics of the former Soviet Union will be strongly represented, presumably in recognition of Reagan's role in their liberation from the Kremlin's tight grip.
The presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and the Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania, were among the first to announce plans to attend Friday's funeral.
Following the funeral the late president's remains will be flown back to California for burial. He died Saturday at the age of 93 after a 10 year fight with Alzheimer's disease.
Prince Charles will represent Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder are also to attend the funeral.
