Dignitaries attend state memorial for Sharon

Israeli officials and world dignitaries arrived at Israel's parliament amidst tight security on Monday (January 13), to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Sharon died at the age of 85 on Saturday (January 11) after eight years in a coma caused by a stroke.

The state memorial service is being held in the courtyard of Israel's parliament building, the Knesset, in Jerusalem and an afternoon funeral near the Sharon family farm in the southern Negev desert.

Israeli and international politicians offered condolences to members of Sharon's family as they entered the Knesset courtyard.

Other former Israeli prime ministers attending included Ehud Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, and Ehud Olmert who was Sharon's former deputy.

The United States was among 18 countries to send delegations to the state ceremony for Sharon in Jerusalem, led by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.