KARBALA, Aug 27: Pilgrims toting green flags arrived in thousands by foot, vehicle and donkey cart from across Iraq in the shrine city of Karbala on Monday, the eve of the birth anniversary of Imam Mohammed al-Mahdi.

Scores of tents were erected to welcome the pilgrims as they arrived on the outskirts of the city, 110 kilometres south of Baghdad, where volunteers served them food and drink.

Devotees had to undergo strict security checks before being allowed into the holy city.

Devotees believe that the imam disappeared from the northern Iraqi town of Samarra centuries ago, and will return one day to save the world.

For the first time in Karbala, women pilgrims were being frisked – by 500 policewomen specially deployed at checkpoints – leading to long queues.

“There are some delays – especially when the woman we frisk is carrying a foreign passport or has a large amount of dollars. If so, we take her to officials,” a policewoman said.

Another policewoman, Faiza Amury, supported the decision to frisk women pilgrims.

“The policewomen experiment should be supported especially in these circumstances where some of the suicide attackers are women,” she said.

Police expect some two million pilgrims to flood in for Tuesday’s gathering in Karbala, which has been subject to militant attacks in the past during religious gatherings.

“The number of pilgrims arriving is mounting and security measures are in place for any emergency,” said Akil al-Khazali, the governor of Karbala.

Medical officials said 53 ambulances and 24 medical teams were on standby across Karbala, while 750 units of blood were stored in case of any emergencies.

Ambulances have also been deployed along the main routes to Karbala while medical teams are handing out drinks to pilgrims making their way to the shrine city in blistering temperatures.

Security forces have also been deployed along highways as pilgrims travelling to Karbala have been attacked in the past by suspected extremists.

Police said on Monday that four pilgrims, including two women, were wounded when they were raked by gunfire as they passed through the town of Iskandiriyah, about 40 kilometres south of Baghdad.

On Monday, a woman pilgrim was killed while three women and three children were wounded when attacked by gunmen as they passed through Baghdad.

Ali Mohammed, 30, was among thousands crowded at the Abil entrance to Karbala on Monday.

“I can hardly walk in this crowd,” he said. “People are arriving here in large numbers despite the hot weather – we are sending a message to the terrorists that we defy them.” Fahima Hussein, 40, who travelled from Najaf, some 60 kilometres away, said she would stay in Karbala until Tuesday night, when she planned to put candles in little clay vessels and send them floating down the Husseiniyah river which flows through the city.—AFP