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EPACopyright: EPA

In a dignified ceremony in the Belgian capital, Brussels, the only known remains of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba were returned to his family.

The gold-crowned tooth of the executed leader was taken by a Belgian policeman who had been charged with disposing of the body of Congo's first prime minister.

Lumumba's daughter, Juliana, gave an emotional speech at the ceremony:

Quote Message: Father, my brothers and I, as well as our children, and your great-grandchildren, have tried through this address, to find the words to bid you farewell 61 years after your disappearance, but we have to admit that nothing can express what we are feeling today.

Father, my brothers and I, as well as our children, and your great-grandchildren, have tried through this address, to find the words to bid you farewell 61 years after your disappearance, but we have to admit that nothing can express what we are feeling today.

Quote Message: We can only wish that wherever you are, you can be proud of your children, your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren. Father, welcome back to the country, thank you."

We can only wish that wherever you are, you can be proud of your children, your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren. Father, welcome back to the country, thank you."

AFPCopyright: AFP

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also spoke:

Quote Message: It is not normal that Belgians held onto the remains of one of the founding fathers of the Congolese nation for six decades. It is not normal that for six decades the remains of one of the founding fathers of the Congolese nation were kept in obscure circumstances which were never really elucidated but which in light of what we know today, do not make us proud."

It is not normal that Belgians held onto the remains of one of the founding fathers of the Congolese nation for six decades. It is not normal that for six decades the remains of one of the founding fathers of the Congolese nation were kept in obscure circumstances which were never really elucidated but which in light of what we know today, do not make us proud."