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Iraq Sends 30,000 Troops to Guard Karbala Pilgrims | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi official says 30,000 policemen and soldiers have been deployed to the holy city of Karbala to protect two million Shiite pilgrims there.

Provincial Gov. Aqil al-Khazali says no violence was reported Wednesday.

The Iraqi government has deployed policemen and soldiers throughout Karbala and on the roads linking the southern city to Baghdad and other towns.

The procession is part of Ashoura, which marks the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein.

Insurgents have killed hundreds of Ashoura pilgrims in recent years.

More than 60 people have been killed this week in bombings, including a suicide bombing that killed 38 people and wounded more than 70 in Baghdad.