HAVANA, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Galvanized by a 21-gun salute that thundered across Havana, tens of thousands of Cubans paid final respects on Monday to Fidel Castro, who led a leftist revolution, ruled for half a century and resisted the United States throughout the Cold War.

Castro died on Friday at the age of 90, a decade after stepping down due to poor health and ceding power to his brother Raul Castro. While he had been retired as an active leader, his death removed any impediment on his brother to pursue deeper relations with Washington if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump warms to the idea of improved ties.

Castro was admired by leftists and people of the developing world who saw him as a revolutionary champion of the poor, but vilified by those who viewed him as a dictator who oppressed Cubans and ruined the economy through socialism.

“For me, he continues living in the hearts of the Cubans,” said Misleidys Rivero, 47, a service station employee with a small Cuban flag in her hand. She arrived early Monday morning at Havana’s Revolution Square to be among the first in line.

The government invited people to the square for a two-day commemoration that started with cannon blasts heard throughout much of the capital.

People stand in line to pay tribute to Cuba’s late President Fidel Castro in Revolution Square in Havana

Marlon Mendez (10), who claims to be an admirer of Cuba’s former president Fidel Castro, poses inside his bedroom that is adorned with pictures of Castro, in Artemisa province, Cuba

People stand in line to pay tribute to Cuba’s late President Fidel Castro in Revolution Square in Havana

A man signs condolences to late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro inside the Cuban Embassy in Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires, Argentina

A girl holds a picture of Fidel Castro and a Cuban flag during a tribute ceremony, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Castro outside the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City

A couple pays tribute to late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro outside the Embassy in Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Supporters of Fidel Castro hold Cuban flags and pictures of Castro as they attend a tribute ceremony outside the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City

A supporter of Fidel Castro reacts as she attends a tribute ceremony, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Castro outside the Cuban Embassy, in Mexico City

A supporter places flowers beside pictures of Castro as he attends a tribute ceremony, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Castro outside the Cuban Embassy, in Mexico City

A man reacts while holding a picture of Fidel, as part of a tribute, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, in Tegucigalpa

A woman holds a Brazilian flag beside a painting of Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro during a protest against a constitutional amendment, known as PEC 55, that limits public spending, in Sao Paulo

A woman reacts during a homage ceremony of the late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro at the 4F military fort in Caracas

A boy places flowers beside a picture of the late Fidel Castro, as part a tribute outside the Cuban Embassy in Guatemala City

Supporters hold pictures of Fidel Castro and Cuban flags as they attend a tribute ceremony, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Castro outside the Cuban Embassy, in Mexico City

A woman reacts next to a placard and flowers as part a tribute outside the Cuban Embassy in Mexico, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, in Mexico City

A local artist paints a portrait of Fidel Castro in front of a shop in downtown Havana, following the announcement of the death of the Cuban revolutionary leader, in Cuba

A man poses for a picture next to a statue of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro with flowers as part of the tribute following the announcement of his death inside the Cuban embassy in Lima

A child plays in front of a mural of late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Managua

A woman poses for a photograph near a poster of late former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega in Managua

People place candles beside a picture of Fidel, as part of a tribute, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, in Tegucigalpa

Activists and members of the Communist Party of Mexico carry a flower wreath along the streets as part of a tribute, following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, in Mexico City

A woman places flowers on a fence as part of a tribute following the announcement of the death of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, outside the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City

Castro was cremated on Saturday and the government has declared a nine-day period of mourning. His ashes will be carried in a cortege to a final resting place in Santiago de Cuba, the city in eastern Cuba where he launched the revolution.

While many Cubans report a certain pressure to attend the government’s many staged events and Castro was hated by many who fled for Miami, he was also widely loved and people appeared to shed genuine tears on Monday.

Some arrived as early as 4 a.m. to be at the head of one of three lines of mourners entering a square that has been central to Cuba’s recent history, and where Castro gave many of his rousing, lengthy speeches.