Iraq’s holy cities host funeral processions for Khamenei

NAJAF, July 08 (AFP): Huge crowds thronged the streets of Najaf and packed the courtyards of its majestic shrine as they mourned on Wednesday late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei during his funeral procession in Iraq.
Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies for Khamenei on Saturday, including a dedicated day in neighbouring Iraq-a Shia powerhouse with close ties to Tehran and home to the faith's most sacred shrines.
The Islamic republic hopes the marathon ceremonies will show strength and unity after the Middle East war, which started with US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei and several relatives on February 28. Mohammed al-Bayati, 30, said he would have never missed the funeral "of the person who challenged the power of America and Israel".