November 26, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 1, 1424

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NAJAF, Nov 25: Police and emergency services were on high alert on Tuesday as thousands flocked here from across Iraq to celebrate the Eidul Fitr holidays, a local Iraqi official said. “Governor Najaf Haidar Mayyali issued an order for maximum alert to brace for a possible emergency,” provincial spokesman Saad Abdul Hurr told reporters.

The order came after the country’s highest Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, designated Wednesday as the beginning of the Eidul Fitr holidays. The country’s Sunni Muslims started celebrating the feast on Monday.

Police increased the number of checkpoints and sealed off several streets in Najaf, 180 kilometres south of Baghdad.

All hospitals and civil defence personnel were told to report to duty, an official said.—APP