Alfredo Stroessner lived in exile in Brazil for 17 years

Gen Stroessner had contracted pneumonia following an operation for a hernia on 29 July.

Gen Stroessner, who led a military coup in 1954, had lived in exile in Brazil since being ousted in 1989.

Paraguay had said earlier it would not pay tribute to him as he was a renegade from justice and was wanted for questioning over alleged rights abuses.

Operation Condor

Gen Stroessner was renowned as a staunch anti-communist, and was an ally of apartheid South Africa and Chile's Gen Augusto Pinochet.

Hundreds of files discovered after his departure revealed Paraguay's extensive role in the repression of left-wing activists across southern Latin America in what was known as Operation Condor.

Paraguayan judges had, on a number of occasions, requested the extradition of the former leader to question him over human rights abuses.

BBC Latin America analyst James Painter says the loyalty of his generals was the ultimate guarantor of Gen Stroessner's rule.

But, he says, the main pillar of civilian support was the multi-class Colorado Party, which the general turned into his personal propaganda machine and source of mobilisation for electoral support.

Many Paraguayans admired Gen Stroessner for the stability he brought. But many others feel their country is still struggling to escape his legacy of authoritarian rule, cronyism and corruption.