PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIALbr br Thousands of Tongans came to say a final goodbye to King George Tupou V as he was laid to rest in the capital.br br Local mourners were joined by representatives from the British and Japanese royal families, and Pacific heads of government.br br The flamboyant monarch ascended the throne in 2006.br br Shortly after, he relinquished most of his power to a broadly popular elected government after 165 years of feudal rule when demonstrations to demand greater democracy turned into deadly riots.br br SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED MOURNER SAYING (English):br br "It's hard for me to hold back my tears because I (will) never forget him in my life."br br SOUNDBITE: MALAKAI KOLOAMATANGI, CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC, SAYING (English):br br "I think we have been able to wipe the slate clean and we have laid the foundations and I think Tonga is moving forward from here."br br The late king's been buried in a grave next to his grandmother.