Funeral held for victims of Congo arms depot explosion

A mass funeral has been held for victims of a huge explosion that ripped through the Republic of Congo's capital a week earlier.

At least 240 people were killed when an arms depot in a densely populated part of Brazzaville went up in flames.

Thousands of people, including Congo's President Denis Sassou, attended Sunday's funeral and memorial service.

More than 2,300 people are thought to have been injured in the blast, which also destroyed hundreds of homes.

A fleet of trucks carried 145 coffins, each draped in the Congolese flag, to the ceremony at a Brazzaville convention centre.

About 80 other victims' bodies have yet to be identified, officials say.

The Congolese government has come under criticism for allowing a large number of munitions to be stored in a densely populated residential area.