Bremer: Pilgrims Face Danger if They Attend Shiite Festivals in Iraqi City [View All]

[demdave]

Bremer: Pilgrims Face Real Danger if They Attend Shiite Festivals in Iraqi Cities This Weekend


BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Pilgrims will face a "very real" threat of violence if they attend ceremonies to mark the al-Arbaeen holy day at Shiite shrines in southern Iraq, where militias have been battling coalition forces, the top U.S. administrator in the country said Thursday.
Millions of pilgrims had been expected to gather in Shiite cities this weekend to mark al-Arbaeen, the end of the 40-day mourning period for the 7th-century death in battle of their most beloved saint, Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

On March 2, at the start of the mourning period, Ashoura, simultaneous explosions ripped through crowds of worshippers at Shiite Muslim shrines in Baghdad and Karbala, killing at least 181.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA902V4TSD.html
OOPS...forgot the link

Note: headline edited because AP headline writers get paid by the word. :)