Mr Karim will be buried in his home city of Dohuk in northern Iraq

The body of 29-year-old Kalan Kawa Karim is being taken to Turkey before being driven to the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk.

Mr Karim was attacked outside a pub on the Kingsway in the city centre in the early hours of 6 September. His funeral is due to be held on Thursday.

Last month, a 26-year-old local man appeared in court charged with murder.

On Wednesday, Mr Karim's best friend Sarkat Junad left Heathrow with his body.

The body is being flown to Istanbul, then another plane will take it to Diyarbakir in Turkey, before a five-hour drive to the Iraqi border.

Kalan's parents and wife will be waiting for me in Diyarbakir Sarkat Junad, Friend

An appeal to pay for the journey is still �1,500 short of the �3,500 target, and Mr Junad, 30, has appealed for help.

"The money is difficult but I will find it myself if I have to - I really don't know what will happen," he said.

He added it was "an emotional time for me and everyone concerned".

"This is the first time I will have been home for many years.

"Kalan's parents and wife will be waiting for me in Diyarbakir.

"At the border there will be other friends and relatives and many others waiting - we are expecting about 5,000 people."

The appeal to pay for the journey has been supported by the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association.

The funeral will take place before first light on Thursday morning, and will be followed by three days of mourning.

Anyone with information regarding the alleged attack is asked to contact the incident room at Cockett police station on 01792 456999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.