|
Iraq forces on alert in holy city
Iraqi security forces are on alert in the city of Karbala as hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims gather for a major religious festival. Thousands of police and troops are on duty and soldiers from the US-led coalition are taking up positions outside the city, south of Baghdad. Cars have been banned from the city, to reduce the risk of bombings, and pilgrims are being searched. The festival marks the birth of a revered Shia leader, Imam Mehdi. | Is it that time, again? I always forget to send a card. |
There are fears that Sunni insurgents who are trying to invoke civil war in the country may attack the festival, reports the BBC's Richard Galpin in Baghdad. | I think it's a given, only question is how many attacks |
More than 260 people, mostly Shia Muslims, have been killed in an upsurge of violence that began on Wednesday. The militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has reportedly called for war against Shias ahead of next month's referendum on a new Iraqi constitution.
| Anyone see the new article in Lancet about the horrible civilian casualties inflicted by the jihadis? Nope, I didn't either. |
Pilgrims have been converging on Karbala for several days for the festival, which commemorates Imam Mehdi, the 12th and last Imam of the Shia Muslims. Some pilgrims told the BBC they were more determined than ever to attend the festival following the reported threat by Zarqawi. "He will not stop us from attending out rituals," said one man, as he set off from Baghdad. But the authorities are taking maximum precautions, our correspondent reports. Hospitals in the area and in Baghdad have been put on alert and there has been a campaign to get extra donations of blood from the population.
Posted by: Steve 2005-09-19 |
