Shi'ite muslims flock to Karbala for Ashura
Millions of Shi'ite Muslims have flooded into the Iraqi shrine
city of Karbala for the peak of Ashura rituals, Radio Liberty
reported.
Throngs of pilgrims beat their chests as a sign of mourning for
Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who was killed in
AD 680 in Karbala.
Provincial Governor Amal al-Din al-Har told AFP that about 3
million pilgrims, including 200,000 from foreign countries, have
come to Karbala for the rituals.
Staff Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanimi, commander of the
Karbala area, said 30,000 members of the security forces were
deployed at the northern, southern, and eastern entrances of
Karbala to protect the pilgrims.
Pilgrims have been targeted by bombings in past years that left
dozens dead.