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Shiite Factions Fight Amid Pilgrims in Karbala

Posted Aug 29, 07 7:14 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – A million pilgrims were ordered to evacuate the holy city of Karbala yesterday as Shiite militias fought each other for control of southern Iraq, killing 51 people. Another 200 were injured in chaos after gunmen loyal to anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr fired on members of the Badr Organization, the armed faction of the Supreme Islamic Council. Snipers also fired on security forces, the LA Times reports.

The government upped its presence in the city by 15,000 troops to protect pilgrims at the religious festival, but they did little to help. The violence started with militants throwing rocks and knives at police, but quickly escalated into widespread panic and violence.  Now, Karbala is in flames and the city is under curfew.

Source Los Angeles Times

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Pilgrims walk as smoke rises after clashes broke out in the streets of Shiite holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Police ordered a curfew Tuesday...   (Associated Press)
Iraqi rescue workers carry a wounded man after clashes broke out in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Fighting erupted Tuesday between...   (Associated Press)
Pilgrims light candles outside the sanctuary of the 12th and last Shiite Imam al-Mahdi in the Shiite holy city of Karbala 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Police...   (Associated Press)
A pilgrim is checked by an Iraqi soldier in the holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. The security measures were intensified when over a million...   (Associated Press)
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Iraq • Moqtada al-Sadr • Shiite • civil war • militia • Karbala


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