(16 Dec 2010)
Karbala
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1.Various wides of pilgrims flagellating themselves with chains, others drumming
2. Mid of Holy shrine of Imam Hussein with crowd of pilgrims outside
3. Pilgrims entering holy shrine
4. Pilgrims inside holy shrine
5. Pan of pilgrims inside holy shrine beating their chests
6. Various of pilgrims in white clothes near holy shrine of Imam Hussein
Baghdad
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6. Various of pilgrims flagellating themselves and drumming
7. Wide of pilgrims walking with large flags outside holy shrine of Imam Kadhim
STORYLINE
Hundreds of thousands of Shiites flocked to Karbala and other shrines across Iraq on Thursday to mark a festival known as Ashoura.
The event marks the anniversary of the 7th century death of Imam Hussein, who was slain in battle near Karbala.
Sunni insurgents in Iraq have frequently targeted Shiite shrines and large religious festivals, and killed thousands of pilgrims since 2004. They have also attacked Iranian pilgrims, very few of whom were allowed to visit Iraq's holy sites under the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.
Ashoura is expected to peak on Thursday and Friday when the pilgrims - many walking hundreds of miles (kilometres) to reach Karbala to commemorate Imam Hussein's suffering while dying on the battlefield - converge on the city.
Hussein was the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
Ashoura includes processions and ceremonies, including self-flagellation, in a show of grief to mark Hussein's death in battle, for leadership of the faith.
Authorities have beefed up security around Karbala, including imposing a vehicle ban that forces pilgrims to enter the city on foot.
Additional checkpoints have been erected at several entrance points and 28-thousand police officers have been deployed to search the pilgrims at various points leading up to the mosque where Imam Hussein is buried.
Hundreds of Shiite pilgrims also flocked to the holy Shrine of Imam Kadhim, a most revered Shiite Imam in Baghdad.
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