Shiites converge on Karbala despite threat of war

Iraqi Shiite pilgrims have descended on the holy city of Karbala in their hundreds of thousands, as they prepare to celebrate a religious festival under a threat of war declared by Sunni Arab radicals.

Two car bombs have killed eight people travelling on the road from Baghdad to the holy city.

Police said the bombs struck in the towns of Mahmoudiya and Latifiya, killing one civilian and seven police. Two police were also wounded.

Last week, more than 250 people were killed in and around Baghdad after the Jordanian militant, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, declared war on Shiites, in response to a military assault by Iraqi troops and US forces on the northern city of Tal Afar.

Around 6,000 security forces have set up positions and checkpoints on the four main entrances to Karbala; the city has also been closed to cars, amid fears of suicide bombers.

Karbala police chief Brigadier-General Karim al-Hasnawi said at least 2.5 million Shiites had already converged on the city by early Monday, although this number could not be independently confirmed.

"This year the number is much higher than in previous years. We think it may be an act of defiance," Brig-Gen Hasnawi said.

Most shops and businesses are closed as the huge crowd, many of whom have arrived on foot, swells.

Karbala residents have set up food and drink stands for the pilgrims, despite warnings from local police to avoid them, fearing militants might try to hand out poisoned food.

At the last major Shiite festival, in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad, more than 1,000 pilgrims died when a crowd stampeded over a bridge across the river Tigris, sparked by rumours a suicide bomber was preparing to blow himself up.

Even before the stampede, mortar bombs and rockets had been fired into the crowd, killing seven and wounding over 30.

-Reuters

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