US prepares for days of mourning for US Senator Edward Kennedy

Family members of US Senator Edward Kennedy gathered yesterday for a private Mass at the seaside home where the 77-year-old towering figure in Democratic politics died two days ago.

As Boston prepared for three more days of tributes to the patriarch of one of America's most famous political dynasties, state officials took up the question of how quickly they could replace the state's senior senator, who had brain cancer.

Governor Deval Patrick told the Boston Globe that he wanted to honor Kennedy's wish to change state laws to allow him to name an interim senator to hold the post during the approximately five-month period until an election can be held.

Mr Patrick and fellow Democratic lawmakers including Massachusetts Senator John Kerry have said that filling Kennedy's seat quickly will be vitally important as Congress works on overhauling the US healthcare system.

Throughout his 47 years in the Senate, Kennedy advocated healthcare reform, which has become a key initiative of US President Barack Obama. Mr Kennedy's death leaves the Democrats one vote shy of the 60-member super-majority they need to override any attempted Republic filibusters.

His son, Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, arrived at the compound in the early morning hours to join relatives who had sat vigil over the late senator's body on Wednesday.

Police blocked off roads leading to the Cape Cod compound where the Kennedys have time and again gathered to endure tragedies that included the assassinations of two brothers, President John Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy, and the death of the late president's son in a plane crash a decade ago.