Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala attends the concluding ceremony of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Colombo in this August 3, 2008 file photo. Koirala passed away on March 20, 2010, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior leader of the Nepali Congress announced to the media on Saturday. [Photo: Xinhua]

When Nepalis grieved over demise of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who died on Saturday at the age of 86, the international community also paid last tribute to the prominent politician.

Foreign delegations joined hundreds of thousand of local people to pay their last homage to the remains of national guardian at the National Stadium in capital Kathmandu on Sunday.

An Indian delegation comprised of External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) speaker Meira Kumar arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport on a special flight on Sunday.

"The delegation had come as an official delegation to express condolence on behalf of Indian government and Indian National Congress," Mukherjee told journalists at airport before leaving for National Stadium.

The Indian delegation is also scheduled to attend the last rites in Pashupatinath Temple, a Hindu Temple where Koirala's body will be cremated.

Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh sent condolences message to Koirala's daughter and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala on Saturday.

Singh in his condolence letter termed Koirala the elder statesman of South Asia.

A visiting Chinese delegation led by Zhao Leji, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, paid their last respects to Koirala along with Chinese ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong on Sunday afternoon.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post on Saturday, Qiu said that Koirala was one of the great friends of China and his demise was a great loss to Nepal.

"We will always remember Koirala's contribution to the peace process and strengthening relation between our two countries," Qiu was quoted as saying.

United Nations Mission In Nepal (UNMIN) Chief Karen Landgren appeared in the National Stadium Sunday morning to pay tribute to late Koirala.

Landgren expressed deep sorrow over the death of Koirala on Saturday in a press statement describing Koirala as instrumental to Nepal's peace process, which put an end to 10 years of conflict.

Representatives of foreign diplomatic missions assembled at the stadium, among them were Deputy Chief of Mission from German Embassy, representatives from Korean Embassy and Pakistan Embassy.

Political leaders including Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Constituent Assembly chair Subas Nemwang paid their last respects to the remains of late Nepali Congress Party President and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the National Stadium in capital Kathmandu on Sunday morning.

Prime Minister Nepal covered the body of late Koirala with national flag as the Nepal Army provided guard of honor.

Leaders, government officials, ambassadors of several countries, industrialists and people of different walks of life were present in the stadium to pay their tribute to late Koirala. Thousands of people have lined up outside the stadium waiting for their turn.

Earlier, the convoy carrying the remains of the late Koirala had reached the stadium after it was kept at the Nepali Congress central office for a short time.

As per previously announced schedule, the remains will be kept at the stadium until 2 p.m. local time.

The remains was moved earlier Sunday to the Nepali Congress party headquarters at Sanepa from Mandikhatar, Koirala's daughter Sujata Koirala's residence, where Koirala, 86, breathed his last Saturday afternoon.

Four-time Prime Minister Koirala has suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for a long time and remained unconscious since Saturday morning.