Thousands march as Khamenei's funeral procession crosses into Iraq

(Fixes dateline)

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) July 8 - Mourners marched through Iraq's holy city of Najaf on Wednesday, following the coffin of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as his six-day funeral procession, which drew huge crowds in his home country, pressed on across the border.

People carrying large portraits of the late leader gathered along the route and chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" as Khamenei's coffin was driven on a large truck through the streets.

Iraqi and Iranian flags fluttered above the crowd, alongside the banners of powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militias whose supporters joined the procession.

Najaf holds special significance for Shi'ite Muslims worldwide ​as the burial place of Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law ​of the Prophet Mohammad.

Khamenei's coffin arrived on Tuesday evening at Najaf's international airport, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, senior officials and religious figures attended an official reception.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders also arrived to take part in the procession, which is expected to continue to the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala before the coffin is returned to Iran for burial.

(Reporting by Reuters in Najaf; Additional reporting by Muayad Hameed; Writing by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Andrew Heavens)