Murdered Fortuyn set for reburial

Fortuyn's death led to an outpouring of grief and gave him iconic status overnight

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- The body of murdered Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn has been exhumed and is on its way to his final resting ground in Italy.

The remains of the controversial far-right politician were unearthed from a temporary Dutch grave and, after a family vigil, the coffin was driven in a funeral cortege to Rotterdam airport.

Fortuyn's body is to be taken to be reburied in a marble mausoleum in the north-east Italian village of Provesano Di San Giorgio on Saturday, Fortuyn's family said.

The ceremony that took place in the village of Driehui-Weterveld on the north-west Dutch coast on Thursday had the blessing of Fortuyn's family.

The controversial far-right politician had asked to be buried in Italy, where he had a holiday house.

MORE STORIES • Profile: Fortuyn - Man of paradox  • TIMELINE: Recent killings of politicians    EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: Netherlands Decides 2002

But first he was laid in a temporary grave in the Netherlands, which was visited by 145,000 people.

Fortuyn's dramatic final journey dominated newspaper headlines and the airwaves and was broadcast live on commercial channel SBS6.

The final tribute at the airport included two fire engines on the runway spouting jets of water to form an arc creating a rainbow.

Fortuyn, 54, who became known for his anti-immigration stance and his homosexuality, was shot dead on May 6 just days before a general election in the Netherlands.

Before his death the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) was doing well in opinion polls but the assassination galvanised public opinion, sometimes even among those who disagreed with his policies.

In a country that prides itself on tolerance and non-violent political debate, the killing was seen as an attack on democracy itself and the LPF came second in the election.

It is now joining the free-market VVD and Christian Democrats (CDA) in a new government under CDA leader Peter Balkenende next week. Queen Beatrix will swear in Balkenende on Monday.

Fortuyn's murder also led to an outpouring of grief and soul-searching.

More than 15,000 mourners lined the streets of Rotterdam when his hearse made a final tour after a funeral mass several months ago.

The suspected murderer, animal-right activist Volkert Van der Graaf, was arrested within minutes of the killing and has been on hunger strike in protest over he conditions under which he is being detained.