Iraq: 51 killed as Shi'ite gunmen clash during religious festival
By JPOST.COM STAFFPublished: AUGUST 28, 2007 23:42Advertisement
Fighting erupted Tuesday between rival Shiite militias in Karbala during a religious festival, claiming 51 lives and forcing officials to abort the celebrations and order up to 1 million Shi'ite pilgrims to leave the southern Iraqi city.
Security officials said Mahdi Army gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr fired on guards around two shrines protected by the Badr Brigade, the armed wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.
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