Festival hit by sectarian violence
965 people died at last year's festival after a stampede
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Sunday, 20, Aug 2006 09:24
About 20 people have died in Baghdad following attacks upon Shia Muslims, as pilgrims gather in the Iraqi capital to visit a holy shrine.
Reports from the country's ministry of health say that the pilgrims were killed as they journeyed to the tomb of Musa Kadhim, an eighth century imam, in the Kadhimiya district.
An unnamed government source told the Reuters news agency that the US army had been asked to provide air assistance to prevent further violence from erupting.
More than 200 people are thought to have been injured in total as a result of today's shootings, with sectarian violence becoming an everyday occurrence for those living in Iraq.
Unprecedented security levels have been introduced for this year's festival, including a weekend ban on all vehicles in Baghdad.
In 2005 almost 1,000 pilgrims lost their lives when militia fired upon crowds, with subsequent suicide bomber rumours prompting a mass stampede.
The bridge across the river Tigris on which the majority of the deaths occurred had been closed for the weekend to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.