Security tight for Kerbala festival

Thousands of pilgrims flock to the Iraqi city of Kerbala ahead of the holiest festival on the Shi'ite Muslim calendar.

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Security was tight in the holy city of Kerbala, to guard against suicide bombers or other attacks as hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims prepared to mark the climax of a religious event.

The streets of Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) southwest of Baghdad, were packed with pilgrims from across Iraq, arriving for Arbain - marking the end of a symbolic mourning for the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein.