Thousands mourn slain Istanbul journalist

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A quiet but large funeral was held in Istanbul on Tuesday for Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was reportedly killed for insulting Turkey.

A black hearse carried Dink's coffin along a 5-mile route lined with mourners who had been asked by Dink's newspaper, Agos, to refrain from shouting slogans, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

However, many carried hand-made placards as the cortege inched along. It stopped briefly at the offices of Agos, which Dink founded and ran, his "final visit" to work.

Numerous Turkish government officials were in attendance at the funeral, as were hundreds of Armenians and senior representatives of the Armenian Orthodox church who flew to Istanbul for the funeral, the report said.

Dink was killed last Friday outside the newspaper offices. The suspect, who has reportedly confessed to the assassination, allegedly told police Dink had violated a law that forbids insulting Turkey in the media.