Millions mark Shi'ite ritual in Iraq after clashes

By Sami al-Jumaili

KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) - A major Shi'ite ritual ended peacefully in the southern city of Kerbala on Saturday after Iraqi forces imposed tight security around 2.5 million pilgrims, but attacks in the north killed nine worshippers.

Police Brigadier-General Najim Abdullah said a large group of Shi'ites had been returning from the annual Ashura religious ritual in Tal Afar, 420 km (260 miles) northwest of Baghdad, when they were hit by a Katyusha rocket that killed seven.

In northern Kirkuk, a bomb killed two Shi'ite pilgrims heading to a mosque for the ceremonies.

Police said sporadic fighting between security forces and gunmen from a messianic Shi'ite cult broke out again in the southern cities of Basra and Nassiriya on Saturday, a day after gunmen attacked worshippers and police. There was no information on casualties.

Nearly 70 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in gunbattles on Friday after gunmen from the "Soldiers of Heaven" cult launched nearly simultaneous attacks in the two cities.

In Kerbala, tight security meant there were few incidents as pilgrims thronged streets and alleyways for the end of the 10- day Ashura ritual, in which Shi'ites mourn the slaying over 1,300 years ago of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussein.

Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki praised the cooperation between security forces and pilgrims in Kerbala.

Many worshippers expressed relief that the ritual was free of the bombings that have plagued past commemorations of Ashura in Kerbala. Other saw it as a sign Iraq was making progress.