Thousands of people have attended the funeral of murdered independent reporter Elmar Huseynov in Azerbaijan. Huseynov, widely known for his outspoken criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities, was shot outside his flat in the capital, Baku, on Wednesday. International organizations and foreign governments have condemned the killing. Huseynov\'s family - echoing a warning from President Ilham Aliyev - had urged the opposition not to turn the funeral into an anti-government rally. But the BBC\'s Natalia Antelava in Baku says the gathering inside the big hall where the ceremony took place nevertheless resembled a political meeting. Some 3,000 mourners joined the procession through the streets of Baku to the cemetery behind the coffin, which was unusually kept closed. A number of government officials were present at the subsequent funeral meeting, but the crowd jeered one of them who tried to speak until he was forced to leave the room. Police kept out of sight during the procession. Our correspondent says people cheered as opposition leader Ali Kerimli addressed them. Mr Kerimli told the crowds that the government should resign unless it can track down the killers within the next two weeks. \"The bullet was aimed at the people of Azerbaijan,\" he said. \"Elmar is a victim of political terror. He became a victim of the truth. They wanted to silence him, but they cannot silence a people. Azerbaijan will be free.\" Mr Kerimli told the BBC that the opposition planned to hold mass rallies next week. The US ambassador to Azerbaijan also addressed the crowd. He described Huseynov as a national hero. \"We hope that people can realise this loss to the nation ... and find ways to protect journalists in Azerbaijan,\" Reno Harnish said. An FBI agent arrived from the US on Friday to help with the investigation into the journalist\'s death. (BBC)