Convoy bearing late Cambodian king on way to Beijing airport

BEIJING (AFP) - A convoy bearing the body of late Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk departed a Beijing hospital on Wednesday for the city's airport en route back to his homeland, state media said.

Chinese state television broadcast images of the convoy heading to Beijing's airport.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo was escorting the coffin back to Cambodia, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said early Wednesday morning, Xinhua news agency said.

Huge crowds are set to line the streets of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to welcome home the body of the revered ex-king, kicking off a week-long mourning period