Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Temporary Vehicle Ban in Force in Baghdad as Thousands of Shi'ite
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Pilgrims Gather
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=138FEF4:3919ACA Some areas of city
sealed off to protect pilgrims from terror attacks





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An Iraqi policeman patrols on a deserted street in Baghdad, Aug. 19,
2006Iraqi security forces are on high alert Saturday as thousands of
Shi'ite pilgrims gather in Baghdad for Sunday's commemoration of the
death of an eighth century imam.

A vehicle ban is in force in the capital and some areas of the city
have been sealed off to protect the pilgrims from terror attacks.

Media reports say militiamen of the Mehdi Army, loyal to the radical
Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, are patrolling roads taken by Shi'ite
worshippers into the city.

Experts say with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arriving in
Baghdad, it may be impossible to completely protect the festival.

Police say gunmen killed seven pilgrims in Baghdad late Friday.

Last year, nearly 1,000 pilgrims died when rumors of a suicide bomber
triggered a stampede on a bridge across the Tigris River.

The Iraqi government imposed the vehicle ban on Friday. It will last
until Monday morning (0200 UTC).

The ceremonies are taking place as American and Iraqi forces are
conducting a large security operation in the Iraqi capital aimed at
curbing sectarian violence threatening to plunge the nation into civil
war.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

 


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