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Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei officially begin, Iranian state television reports, an event drawing thousands and intended to serve as a show of strength to the Islamic Republic’s foes.
According to the Ynet news site, the crowd chants “Death to America! Death to Israel!”
Iran chose July 4, the 250th anniversary of the creation of the US, to begin the funeral.
Thousands of mourners carrying red banners — a symbol of vengeance — have gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s vast Grand Mosalla religious complex.
The coffin will lie in state until Monday, when a procession will pass through Tehran.
On Tuesday, it will move to the clerical hub of Qom, before moving on Wednesday to cities holy to Shia Muslims in neighboring Iraq, then proceeding for burial on Thursday in Khamenei’s home city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.
BY: The Times Union – Agencies
