In pictures: Najaf bids farewell

1 of 6 Tens of thousands of people converged on Najaf in a massive display of grief

2 of 6 Mourners waited for hours for a chance to bid farewell

3 of 6 Everyone wanted to touch the symbolic coffin - only one hand of the murdered ayatollah had been found

4 of 6 The grief was palpable - Iraqi Shias blame the murder on supporters of ousted President Saddam Hussein

5 of 6 No US troops were visible on the streets of Najaf - guards from the Islamic Shia centre conducted thorough checks

6 of 6 There have been calls to give the militias their weapons back so they can enforce law and order