(31 Jan 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Shiite pilgrims walking from Baghdad towards Karbala, soldier holding his gun standing in foreground
2. Pilgrims walking to Karbala, escorted by armoured vehicle with soldiers on top and ambulance
3. Various of pilgrims walking
4. Wide of traffic
5. Wide of pilgrims making their way to Karbala
6. Female Shiite pilgrims walking
7. Back shot of pilgrims carrying flags
8. Wide of security vehicles on road
STORYLINE
Security was tight in and around Karbala on Sunday as thousands of Iraqi Shiite pilgrims headed to the holy city amid fears of possible attacks.
During Friday prayers, Sheik Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalaie, an aide to Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, warned of possible attacks and demanded Iraqi forces increase security to protect the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims expected to arrive in the city.
Armoured vehicles with soldiers and ambulances escorted pilgrims as they made their way to Karbala on Sunday.
There they will mark the end of the Arbaeen, 40 days of mourning that follow the anniversary of the seventh-century death of one of Shiite Islam''s most revered saints, the Prophet Muhammad''s grandson Hussein.
Hussein was killed in a battle near Karbala for the leadership of the nascent Muslim nation after Muhammad''s death in 632.
Hussein''s death led to the split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
This year''s observance of what is known as Arbaeen takes place during the sensitive political period before Iraq''s March 7 parliamentary elections.
US and Iraqi officials have warned of a possible increase in violence before the voting.
In an effort to limit any behaviour that could be viewed as political during Arbaeen, Karbala Governor Amal-Din al-Hir has banned the chanting or use of sectarian slogans.
Violence has declined overall in Iraq since 2007, though insurgents routinely target security forces and civilians, in particular Shiite Muslims, whose community has dominated Iraqi politics since Saddam Hussein''s overthrow.
Al-Qaida-backed Sunni insurgents have repeatedly struck at Shiites during religious events in an attempt to stoke sectarian strife.
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