Details of Dom Mintoff's funeral cortège were announced this morning, with Opposition leader Joseph Muscat calling for the events to be observed in a dignified manner. 

Addressing a news conference after signing a party book of condolence, Dr Muscat said this was not going to be a mass meeting or a labour activity but a sombre affair for everyone in the country including those who sometimes disagreed with Mr Mintoff.

He said that he and the PL would not be making any statement at any point during these events.

Dr Muscat said that the cortège will start at 3.15 p.m. tomorrow and proceed through several areas which were important in Mr Mintoff’s life. At all stops, the cortège will be met by the mayor and councillors of that locality, the PL committee of that area and band clubs.

The cortege will leave Mater Dei Hospital to Mr Mintoff’s residence at Tarxien at 3.15 p.m. where the coffin will be placed for half an hour. The coffin will then be taken to the parish church and on to Vittoriosa where singer Mary Spiteri will sing a song in tribute at the Freedom Monument.

The cortège will then move to Victory Square, on to Kalkara Gate, and on to Cospicua, Mr Mintoff's childhood home.

21 white doves will be let off from St George’s Band Club representing the Mediterranean peace Mr Mintoff always strove for, Dr Muscat said.

A short service led by the Archpriest will be held at the Cospicua parish church after which the coffin will then move on to Marsa and then the Radio City at Hamrun, where Mr Mintoff became party leader in the 1940s. From there, the coffin will be taken to PL headquarters where PL leader Joseph Muscat, the PL administration and Parliamentary group will pay tribute.

A red and white wreath will be placed on the coffin and an aria will be sung by soprano Claire Caruana. The coffin will then be taken to Valletta, through Republic Street and to the Palace where he will lie in state on Friday and Saturday morning.

A programme of the cortege can be seen in the pdf link below.