Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai led the nation in paying tributes to former President Burhanuddin Rabbani at the funeral ceremony held on Friday in the heavily fortified Presidential Palace in Kabul. President Karzai hailed Prof. Rabbani as a tireless advocate for reconciliation and a martyr on the path of peace. The body of departed leader was carried by uniformed servicemen at the Presidential Palace in a casket draped in the national flag of Afghanistan and kept for paying last respects by the mourners. Rabbani was laid to rest near his home on a hilltop overlooking Kabul. As a mark of respect three days state morning is being observed.Reiterating his commitment to continue peace efforts President Hamid Karzai said the blood of the martyred leader and other martyrs of freedom require us to continue our efforts until we reach peace and stability.Prominent persons from different walks of life, ministers, parliamentarians, senior civilian and service officers and diplomats of several countries also paid homage to the departed leader. Mourners prayed, and a military band played the national anthem. Prof. Rabbani was killed at his home in high security Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul on Tuesday by a suicide bomber wearing explosives in his turban. The bomber posed as a Taliban messenger and detonated the explosives as Prof. Rabbanik embraced his guest in a gesture of greeting. Prof. Rabbani was the President of Afghanistan during 1992-1996. He was the chairman of the High Peace Council to broker peace among the warning factions of Afghanistan.