PHOTO GALLERY: Egyptians bid farewell to Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in public funeral

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The ambulance carrying the body of the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail arrives in 6th of October city for the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

People gather to mourn the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail during his public funeral in Zewail city in 6th of October city on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

People walk during the public funeral of the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in Zewail city in 6th of October city on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Women mourn the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail during his public funeral in Zewail city in 6th of October city on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

People walk during the public funeral of Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in Zewail city in 6th of October city on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

The ambulance carrying the body of Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail arrives in Zewail city in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Security forces pave the way for the ambulance carrying the body of the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

The ambulance carrying the body of Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail arrives in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Security forces protect the ambulance carrying the body of Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

People mourn the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, August 7, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Zewail city students and advocates mourn Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Zewail Citys students mourn Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during his public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Women mourn the Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, August 7, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Young people mourn Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in Zewail city in 6th of October city during his public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

A woman cries during the public funeral of Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in Zewail city in 6th of October city on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Security forces secure the ambulance carrying the body of Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail in 6th of October city during the public funeral on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Students at Zewail city mourn Egyptian scientist and Nobel prize winner Ahmed Zewail during his public funeral in 6th of October city on Sunday afternoon, 7 August, 2016. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Egyptians bade farewell to Egyptian Nobel laureate and chemist Ahmed Zewail on Sunday afternoon in a public funeral in Zewail City headquarters in 6th of October city.

Zewail will be buried later on Sunday in his family cemetery in the city.

Earlier on Sunday, a military funeral was held for him at the El-Mosheer Tantawy mosque in New Cairo.

President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi and a number of Egyptian officials and figures including Egypt's current Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb, Defence Minister Sedki Sobhy and renowned heart surgeon Magdi Yaucoub attended the military funeral.

Even though military funerals are usually held for military personnel, Zewail received the Order of the Grand Collar of the Nile – the highest Egyptian state honour – making him eligible for the distinction.

Zewail passed away on Tuesday at the age of 70 after losing ‎a long battle to ‎cancer. Despite living in the US at the time of his death, Zewail had expressed his wish to be buried in Egypt.

A wake will be held on Monday, for both men and women, also at El-‎Moshir Tantawi ‎Mosque in New Cairo.

‎Photos: Mai Shaheen