Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Gunmen Kill at Least 20 Shi'ite Pilgrims in Baghdad
---------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=1392295:A6F02AD83191E160A197F16DA6BEA7099574F7DCC14957C0 Authorities say
gunmen, including snipers fired on pilgrims as they marched through
several Baghdad neighborhoods toward Shi'ite shrine in northern
district of Kazimiyah





Doctors treat an injured Shiite pilgrim, who was on his way to the
Imam Mousa al-Kadim shrine for the annual commemoration of the saint's
death, in a hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday Aug. 20, 2006

Iraqi officials say gunmen have killed at least 20 Shi'ite pilgrims as
they gathered for a major religious event in Baghdad.

They say more than 200 people were injured when gunmen fired on
pilgrims as hundreds of thousands of people marched to a Shi'ite
shrine in Kazimiyah.

Iraqi officials say police captured at least four gunmen. 

Sunday's pilgrimage commemorates the death of Imam Moussa Kadhim 12
centuries ago.  He is buried in a tomb in Kazimiyah.

Iraqi authorities banned vehicles from Baghdad streets until after the
pilgrimage ends this evening to try to stop Sunni insurgents from
targeting Shi'ites with car bombs.

During last year's pilgrimage, almost one-thousand Shi'ites died in a
stampede on a bridge over the Tigris River, sparked by false rumors of
a suicide bomber in the crowd.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned that anyone who uses a
mosque to incite sectarian violence during the pilgrimage will be
prosecuted under anti-terror laws.

Today's march is taking place as American and Iraqi forces continue
their large security operation in the Iraqi capital aimed at curbing
sectarian violence.

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

 


.