(26 Feb 2008)
1. Various of Shiite pilgrims gathering outside the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, with the holy shrine of Imam Hussein in background
2. Golden dome shrine with flag flying over dome
3. Wide of crowd and pilgrims flagellating themselves with chains
4. Various of Shiite pilgrims walking in procession, flagellating themselves with chain, crowd watching
8. Various of men beating drums walking next to pilgrims flagellating themselves in the procession
9. Wide of procession
10. Mid of pilgrims flogging themselves with chains
11. Women sitting on the ground watching the proceedings, praying
12. Women beating their chests watching the procession
13. Pilgrims flagellating themselves
14. Various of crowd with police standing watching
16. Wide of crowd with Iraq flag flying
STORYLINE:
Thousands of Iraqi Shiite pilgrims arrived in the holy city of Karbala on Tuesday amidst tight security to commemorate the 40th and final day of mourning for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
The celebration of Arbaeen is to reach its climax mid week, when pilgrims gather on Karbala where Imam Hussein and his half brother Imam Abass are buried.
Many of the pilgrims made the 80 kilometre (50mile) journey by foot from Baghdad under heavy security.
AP Television showed pilgrims flagellating themselves with chains to show their grief at the death of Imam Hussein and his half brother Abass.
Women watched the procession, beating their chests as part of the mourning ritual.
Imam Hussein is one of the most important figures in the Shiite faith.
He and his half brother Imam Abbas were killed in the Battle of Tuff, which took place in Karbala in 684 AD.
More than one (m) million pilgrims were expected to arrive in Karbala to mark this major Shiite anniversary, police and local authorities said
Iraqi policemen set up checkpoints around Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of the capital, Baghdad.
Soldiers were deployed in the desert west of the city, and in surrounding fields and orchards, to try to prevent mortar attacks.
Insurgents have previously staged attacks on the Shiites during the religious festival.
The attacks have prompted US and Iraqi forces to increase the number of checkpoints, and impose car bans and other measures in major Shiite cities to protect the worshippers.
Four Shiite pilgrims were killed on Monday in a roadside bombing while the death toll from a suicide attack targeting pilgrims resting in a tent the day before rose to 56, authorities said.
Recent commemorations, including the Ashoura festival in mid-January to mark Imam Hussein's death, passed without major bloodshed amid a slight decline in violence across Iraq.
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