August 18, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 15, 1429

KARBALA, Aug 17: More than three million people marked the annual pilgrimage to Karbala amid tight security and attacks on the way to the holy city that killed dozens of people, officials said on Sunday.

Worshippers from across the Muslim world converged on Karbala over the past week to celebrate Shabaniyah, the birth anniversary of the eighth century Imam Mahdi.

The celebrations culminated overnight on Saturday with more than three million having visited the central Iraqi city over the past week, said Akhil Khazali, the governor of Karbala.

“All the government offices and services were on alert during the ceremony,” Khazali said.

Iraqis braved sustained militant attacks which claimed at least 36 lives since Thursday as they walked on foot from across the country to Karbala.

Karbala police chief Major General Raed Shakir Jawdat said the security plan in place for the celebration was a success.

“The security plan required thousands of security personnel, including more than 2,000 women police workers,” he said.

Interior Minister Jawad Bolani said the security forces had been “controlling” the province for the past two weeks, assuring the success of the pilgrimage.—AFP