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Violence in Iraq as Shi'ite Muslims Mark Ashura

   VOA News 26 December 2009
   An  Iraqi  man  places candles and flowers at the site of a bombing in
   Baghdad, 26 Dec 2009

Photo: AP

   An  Iraqi  man  places candles and flowers at the site of a bombing in
   Baghdad, 26 Dec 2009

   Iraqi  police  say  a  roadside  bombing in Baghdad Saturday killed at
   least  two  people  who were taking part in a Shi'ite Muslim religious
   procession.
   The attack, in the New Baghdad district, also wounded eight others.
   Iraqi  authorities  have  boosted  security  measures  as  hundreds of
   thousands  of  Shi'ite  pilgrims  flock  to Iraq's holy shrine city of
   Karbala for the solemn Ashura holiday.
   Worshipers travel to the shrine each year to mourn the seventh-century
   killing of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
   Several  pilgrims  were killed earlier this week in a spate of attacks
   targeting worshipers.
   On  Friday,  a roadside bomb blast killed at least six Shi'ites in the
   eastern Baghdad district of Sadr City.
   Other  attacks  this  week in the city of Mosul targeted the Christian
   minority as they celebrated Christmas.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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