TUNIS, Tunisia -                                 Tunisians have on Saturday bid farewell to President Beji Caid Essebsi at a state funeral that included French President Emmanuel Macron, Algerian President Abdelkader Ben Saleh, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and King Felipe VI of Spain and thousands of mourners, it was garthered.

Essebsi, who helped guide the North African country’s transition to democracy after the 2011 revolution, died at the age of 92 on Thursday.

The late president’s coffin, covered with the red and white Tunisian flag, was placed on a military truck in the palace of Carthage, about 10 kilometers from the capital.

Many roads were closed, and security forces deployed in most areas of Tunis, the capital city and near the Al Jallaz cemetery.

Tunisians lined up the streets leading to the Carthage district, waving flags and chanting the national anthem.

Thousands filled the capital’s Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a focal point of the 2011 revolution that sparked uprisings across the Arab world, known as the Arab Spring.

“It is a sad day for Tunisia,” said a woman named Nabila. “We lost a great statesman who had a big role after 2011 revolution and helped unite Tunisians.”

However, hours after Essebsi’s death, parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur was sworn in as interim president in line with the constitution in a smooth transition of power.

The electoral commission announced a presidential election for September 15, two months earlier than scheduled., while a parliamentary vote is set for October 6.

Essebsi rose to prominence after the overthrow of veteran leader Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

Drafted in as premier after Ben Ali’s fall, Essebsi in 2012 founded the secular Nidaa Tounes party, now part of the governing coalition.

Two years later, Essebsi became Tunisia’s first freely elected head of state.