The body of veteran US senator John McCain, who died after a battle with brain cancer, has arrived at the Arizona State Capitol where he will lie in state.

Members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the former presidential candidate and Vietnam War veteran on Wednesday after a private ceremony on what would have been his 82nd birthday.

Mr McCain is only the third person to lie in state in the Arizona statehouse rotunda in the past 40 years, according to ceremony organisers.

The others were state senator Marilyn Jarrett in 2006 and Olympic gold medallist Jesse Owens in 1980.

Image: Cindy McCain stands by her husband's coffin at Arizona State Capitol

State troopers on motorcycles accompanied the Republican politician's black hearse on Wednesday before flag-bearing military honour guards lined up outside the State Capitol to honour Mr McCain, who died on Saturday.

On Thursday, a memorial service will be held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church before the senator's body is flown to Washington DC where he will lie in state on Friday at Capitol Hill.

A further memorial service will be held on Saturday at the Washington National Cathedral followed by a private memorial service and burial on Sunday at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated as a US Navy officer in 1958 before becoming a fighter pilot.

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain points to his head during his Carolina kickoff rally at Presbyterian College February 2, 2000
Image: Mr McCain is the third person in 40 years to lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol

Arizona governor Doug Ducey said: "He fought like hell for the causes he believed in.

"But along the way he did it with humor and humanity, and without compromising the principles he held so dear."

While serving in Vietnam, Mr McCain was badly injured and spent more than five years as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down in 1967.

In 1982, he was elected to the House of Representatives and later the Senate in 1986.

A motorcade accompanied Mr McCain's hearse to the Arizona State Capitol
Image: A motorcade accompanied Mr McCain's hearse to the Arizona State Capitol
There will be services in Arizona and Washington until Sunday, when the politician will be buried
Image: There will be services in Arizona and Washington until Sunday, when the politician will be buried

In recent times, he became a key critic of Donald Trump, who has been asked by Mr McCain's family not to attend his funeral.

Shortly after Mr McCain's death, the US leader paid tribute to the fellow Republican on Twitter.

"My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain," he wrote. "Our hearts and prayers are with you!"

More from John McCain

Mr McCain's wife Cindy said her heart was "broken" in a Twitter post praising her "incredible" husband.

In a statement, Mr McCain's daughter Meghan said her father was a "great fire who burned bright".

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