Lima: Thousands of Peruvians gathered to say last goodbye to former President Alan Garcia, dead at 69 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, at the headquarters of his party, a site chosen by his family for his wake in lieu of any official honours. Starting early Thursday morning, supporters of the Peruvian Aprista Partybegan arriving at the wake at the Casa del Pueblo carrying flowers and white handkerchiefs, Efe news reported.

Garcia died on Wednesday at Lima’s Casimiro Ulloa Hospital, where he was rushed after shooting himself in the head as police arrived at his home to arrest him for allegedly taking bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The government declared three days of national mourning.