Tens of thousands of Cubans — some wrapped in red, white and blue Cuban flags — paid final respects Monday to Fidel Castro, who led the revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, led the socialist island nation for half a century and resisted U.S. imperialism for almost 60 years.

"Long live Fidel! We can hear him, we can feel him, he'll always be here," a crowd gathered near Havana's Revolution Square chanted, holding up a banner that read "We are Fidel."

The government invited people to the square for a two-day commemoration that started with a 21-gun salute heard in the capital.