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| Iranians flock to Suleimani's home town for burial | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Huge number of mourners of general killed in US strike appears to match turnout in Tehran | Huge number of mourners of general killed in US strike appears to match turnout in Tehran |
| Iranians gathered in Kerman for the burial of top general Qassem Suleimani on Tuesday in the final stage of funeral processions after he was killed in a US strike in Iraq. | Iranians gathered in Kerman for the burial of top general Qassem Suleimani on Tuesday in the final stage of funeral processions after he was killed in a US strike in Iraq. |
| The massive number of mourners in the home town of the slain commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign arm appeared to match the huge turnout seen in the cities of Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Ahvaz. | The massive number of mourners in the home town of the slain commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign arm appeared to match the huge turnout seen in the cities of Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Ahvaz. |
| They converged from afar on Azadi Square where two flag-draped coffins were on display, with the second one reportedly containing the remains of Soleimani’s closest aide, Brig Gen Hossein Pourjafari. | They converged from afar on Azadi Square where two flag-draped coffins were on display, with the second one reportedly containing the remains of Soleimani’s closest aide, Brig Gen Hossein Pourjafari. |
| “We’re here today to pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence,” said one of the mourners, who came from the southern city of Shiraz to attend the funeral in Kerman. | “We’re here today to pay respects to the great commander of the holy defence,” said one of the mourners, who came from the southern city of Shiraz to attend the funeral in Kerman. |
| “Haj Qasem was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world,” Hemmat Dehghan said. “The security of the whole world – Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran – all owe it to him,” the 56-year-old war veteran said. | “Haj Qasem was not only loved in Kerman, or Iran, but also the whole world,” Hemmat Dehghan said. “The security of the whole world – Muslims, Shiites, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and especially Iran – all owe it to him,” the 56-year-old war veteran said. |
| Suleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport on Friday in a drone strike ordered by US president Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with arch-enemy Iran, which has vowed “severe revenge”. | Suleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport on Friday in a drone strike ordered by US president Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with arch-enemy Iran, which has vowed “severe revenge”. |
| The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets. | The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets. |
| Iraq’s parliament has demanded the government expel the 5,200 American troops stationed in the country in response to the drone attack, which also killed top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. | Iraq’s parliament has demanded the government expel the 5,200 American troops stationed in the country in response to the drone attack, which also killed top Iraqi military figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. |
| NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that Iran must avoid “further violence and provocations” after the alliance held emergency talks on the crisis. | NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on Monday that Iran must avoid “further violence and provocations” after the alliance held emergency talks on the crisis. |
| The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis on Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq’s interests to “take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation”. | The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the crisis on Friday, said it was in both Iran and Iraq’s interests to “take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation”. |
| Saudi Arabia – an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counterstrikes – also appealed for calm after a “very dangerous” escalation. | Saudi Arabia – an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counterstrikes – also appealed for calm after a “very dangerous” escalation. |
| Soleimani is expected to be buried at the martyrs’ cemetery between 2pm and 4pm. | Soleimani is expected to be buried at the martyrs’ cemetery between 2pm and 4pm. |