Blair's tribute to Ariel Sharon at memorial service

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been buried at his family ranch in the Negev desert, beside his late wife.

In the second of two funeral services held today, Sharon's sons Gilad and Omri Sharon, as well as Israel's Military Chief Benny Gantz, paid tribute to the statesman.

Earlier, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US vice president Joe Biden paid homage to Mr Sharon at his state funeral service in Jerusalem.

Mr Sharon died at the age of 85 on Saturday after spending the last eight years in a coma caused by a stroke.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US vice president Joe Biden have paid homage to Ariel Sharon at his state funeral service in Jerusalem.

Watch: Blair's tribute to 'giant of this land' Ariel Sharon

Speaking at the state memorial service in the southern Negev desert, former Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to Ariel Sharon's "idea that the Jewish people, so often victims of injustice and persecution, should have a state where they could be independent and free."

"Think good or ill of Arik Sharon, agree or disagree with him, but that calling - a noble one - was plain and unalloyed," he said.

Sharon, he added, was "a warrior to create his country, yet wise enough to know that war alone could not secure his future."

"He was a giant of this land."

The Israeli Ministry of Defence has shared this picture on Instagram of Ariel Sharon's final resting place.

The former Israeli prime minister will be buried next to his late wife Lily, spokesman Ofir Gendelman said.

Thousands of Israelis have been paying their final respects to ex-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ahead of his state funeral later today.

His coffin lay in state outside the parliament building in Jerusalem yesterday, and last night mourners came to light candles in his honour.

Read: Ariel Sharon: Brutal military man and defender of his country

His funeral will be held at the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and then his body will be taken to his far, Sycamore ranch, near Sderot in southern Israel where he will be buried in a military ceremony next to his wife Lili, who died in 2000.

Israelis have been paying their respects to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as his body lies in state at parliament ahead of his funeral tomorrow.

The 85-year-old died yesterday after spending eight years in a coma after a major stroke in 2006.

Read: Ariel Sharon's body lies in state ahead of funeral

The body of Ariel Sharon has been laid outside the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, where it will remain until his funeral tomorrow.

The former prime minister's coffin was escorted from hospital to the Knesset this morning.

Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's remains will lie in state in parliament in Jerusalem today.

A memorial service will be held there tomorrow morning, followed by an afternoon funeral near Sycamore Farm, Sharon's residence in southern Israel.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said Saturday he was "saddened" by the death of Ariel Sharon, former prime minister of Israel, and called on the country to build on his legacy of pragmatism to press ahead with the Israeli- Palestinian peace process.

Sharon will be remembered for "his political courage and determination to carry through with the painful and historic decision to withdraw Israeli settlers and troops from the Gaza Strip," the UN chief said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General calls on Israel to build on the late prime minister's legacy of pragmatism to work towards the long overdue achievement of an independent and viable Palestinian state, next to a secure Israel," the statement said.