| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Iraqi officials tout successful security measures during Kerbala pilgrimage |
| 2008-08-18 |
| More than 3 million Shiites marked the annual pilgrimage to Kerbala amid tight security and attacks on the way to the holy city that killed dozens of people, officials said on Sunday. Shiite worshippers from across the Muslim world converged on Kerbala over the past week to celebrate Shabaniyya, the birth anniversary of the eighth century Imam Mehdi, who vanished as a boy and whom Shiites believe will return one day as the messiah. The celebrations culminated overnight on Saturday with over 3 million Shiites having visited the central Iraqi city over the past week, Akhil Khazali, the governor of Kerbala, told AFP. "All the government offices and services were on alert during the ceremony," Khazali said. Iraqi Shiites braved sustained militant attacks which claimed at least 36 lives since Thursday as they walked on foot from across the country to Kerbala for the ceremony. Kerbala police chief Major General Raed Shakir Jawdat said the security plan in place for the celebration was a success. "The security plan required thousands of security personnel, including more than 2,000 women police workers," he said. Over 40,000 soldiers and police had been mobilized, including 2,000 female officers, to boost security in and around Kerbala ahead of the festival. Jawdat added that the security measures would remain until all the pilgrims had left the city. "The pilgrims were aware that these measures were for their safety and to protect them from terrorist attacks," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |