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Funeral Held for Former British Foreign Secretary Cook


Prominent British politicians were among the many mourners attending Friday's funeral of former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

At least 700 mourners gathered Friday at St. Giles' Cathedral in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is out of the country on vacation, did not attend the funeral, but will take part later in a memorial service.

The 59-year-old Mr. Cook died Saturday after collapsing while walking with his wife in the hills of northern Scotland. Doctors say he died of hypertensive heart disease.

Mr. Cook served as foreign secretary from 1997 to 2001. He resigned his Cabinet post as leader of the House of Commons in protest of the war in Iraq, stepping down on the eve of the U.S. and British-led invasion in March, 2003.

He also criticized the British government's handling of intelligence information about Iraqi weapons.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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