Heavy security as thousands arrive for religious ceremonies

(6 Aug 2009)
1. Wide of Iraqi Shiite pilgrims heading to holy shrines in Karbala to celebrate the birthday of Imam al-Mahdi
2. Pilgrims walking toward the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, Iraqi soldier in foreground
3. Iraqi soldier on top of armoured vehicle
4. Iraqi soldier holding walkie-talkie
5. Various of security checkpoint
6. Various of Iraqi security troops searching pilgrims
7. Close up of gun being held by policeman, pilgrims walking by in foreground
8. Wide of pilgrims heading to holy shrine
9. Holy shrine of Imam Hussein
10. More of pilgrims walking to the holy shrine
11. Pilgrims chanting
12. Wide of pilgrims
13. Iraqi helicopter flying overhead
14. Various of holy shrine of Imam Hussein
STORYLINE
Thousands of Shiite pilgrims converged on Karbala on Thursday amid heavy security ahead of major religious ceremonies south of the Iraqi capital.
The pilgrims visited the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometres (50 miles) to the south of Baghdad, to attend ceremonies marking the birth of Mohammed al-Mahdi, the 12th and last Shiite imam who disappeared in the 9th century.
Religious Shiites refer to al-Mahdi as the "Hidden Imam," believing he was spared death and will return to Earth to bring peace and justice.
More than one (m) million pilgrims from throughout the Shiite world are expected to converge on Karbala for the celebrations, which will reach their high point late on Thursday and early on Friday.
Shiites make up 60 per cent of Iraq's estimated 26 (m) million people.
The Shiite pilgrims have been the target of sectarian violence, especially during important Shiite religious festivals.
In the past, Sunni religious extremists, including al-Qaida in Iraq, have launched massive and deadly attacks against pilgrims during Shiite celebrations, which have drawn huge crowds since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.

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