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The body of General Qassem Soleimani, killed Thursday in Iraq by an American strike, has not yet arrived in his native country but the tribute ceremonies began this Sunday morning in Ahvaz, where the officer's coffin is expected.
State television began broadcasting before 08:00 (04:30 UT) a live broadcast from the city of Ahvaz in southwest Iran.
The images show a compact crowd, dressed in black, reports Agence France-presse. People in attendance display red (blood color of "martyrs"), green (color of Islam) and white flags adorned with religious slogans, as well as portraits of the general who commanded the Quds Force, the Guardians' elite unit. of the Revolution, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic.
Aerial images show a human tide converging on the gathering place.
The body of the officer must be transferred to Ahvaz Sunday, before ceremonies of homage to Machhad - at the mausoleum of Imam Reza, eighth successor of the prophet Muhammad for Shiite Muslims, specifies our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi .
Next, there will be an official funeral in Tehran on Monday in the presence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior Iranian political and military officials. Finally, Tuesday, General Soleimani will be buried in Kerman, his hometown in the south of the country.
The official funeral in Iraq and Iran shows the role and influence of General Soleimani in both countries and the growing influence of Tehran in its Iraqi neighbor.