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.
August 28, 2007

Iraqi Police Impose Curfew, Evacuate Shi'ite Pilgrims From Karbala
------------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1908343:A6F02AD83191E160181B46D7807118509574F7DCC14957C0 Witnesses say
gunfire echoed through city center, pilgrims seen running in all
directions





Female pilgrims walk past Iraqi security forces, 27 Aug
2007Authorities in the Iraqi city of Karbala have imposed an
indefinite curfew and police say they are evacuating Shi'ite pilgrims
after gunmen and police clashed during a major religious festival.

Police say buses have been readied to take pilgrims out of the holy
city as police and army reinforcements move in.

Gunfights broke out near two major Shi'ite shrines, the focal points
of celebrations marking the birth of Mohammed al-Mahdi, the 12th and
last Shi'ite imam.









Members of the joint Iraqi security forces block a road  after
unidentified gunmen open fire to threat pilgrims in southwestern
Baghdad, 27 Aug 2007Hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims are in
Karbala for the annual two-day festival.

In the past, gunmen have disrupted Shi'ite festivals in the city.

Monday, pilgrims angry about security restrictions fought with police,
who used gunfire. Officials say at least five people were killed and
more than 20 wounded.

In other news, the U.S. military says Iraqi and coalition forces
killed 33 insurgents in a joint operation north of Baghdad. A military
statement says the operation reopened a major irrigation canal that
had been seized by gunmen.

The U.S. military also says coalition forces killed eight terrorists
and detained 11 suspects in separate operations elsewhere in central
and northern Iraq Tuesday.

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




.