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WORLD> Middle East
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Three bombs kill 28 in Baghdad during pilgrimage
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-28 19:18 Al Qaeda has often targeted Shi'ite pilgrims taking part in religious events in Iraq. It considers Shi'ism -- the majority Muslim denomination in Iraq -- heretical.
Other Shi'ite religious events in recent months have passed relatively peacefully. The Kadhamiya pilgrimage is one of several religious events in the Shi'ite calendar which have attracted millions since the fall of former president Saddam Hussein. The Sunni Arab leader curbed participation in such events. The Kadhamiya pilgrimage was marred in 2005 by one of the worst losses of life in a single incident since the 2003 US-led invasion, when rumours of a bomb attack triggered a stampede among pilgrims crossing a bridge leading to the shrine. Up to 1,000 people were killed. The bridge has been closed since but is expected to reopen soon after this year's pilgrimage. Other bridges and roads leading to Kadhamiya have been closed for the event, and a vehicle curfew would be imposed, the Iraqi military has said. |
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