In Baghdad, snipers, explosions and automatic weapons fire, as violence claims 51 lives

[ProSense]

Shiite gunmen clash at Karbala festival

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer
43 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Fighting erupted Tuesday between rival Shiite militias in Karbala during a religious festival, claiming 51 lives and forcing officials to abort the celebrations and order up to 1 million Shiite pilgrims to leave the southern city.

Security officials said Mahdi Army gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr fired on guards around two shrines protected by the Badr Brigade, the armed wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.

Residents of Karbala contacted by telephone said snipers were firing on Iraqi security forces from rooftops. Explosions and the rattle of automatic weapons fire could be heard during telephone calls to reporters in the city 50 miles south of Baghdad.

In addition to the deaths, security officials said at least 247 people were wounded, including women and children.

The clashes appeared to be part of a power struggle among Shiite groups in the sect's southern Iraqi heartland, which includes the bulk of the country's vast oil wealth.

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Did Bush give another delusional speech today?

[Disturbed]

1. "order up to 1 million Shiite pilgrims to leave the southern city."

Will "up to 1 Million" people follow this order to leave? I don't think so.

What is bizzar is that Shi'ites are firing on fellow Shi'ites. One would think it would be Sunnis firing on Shi'ites. Iraq is now the Free Fire Twilight Zone.

[Disturbed]

2. DUers are now obsessed with the Sen Craig stupidity.

It is frustrating that the board is dominated by a story which has such little importance that the situation in Iraq is being ignored.

[Supersedeas]

4. Sad but true: Craig, Vick, and Owen Wilson dominate the American political networks

[malaise]

3. WTF?

Get out of Iraq.

[spanone]

5. are we still in that iraq thingy?

why bring this up when men are lurking in public stools??????

:sarcasm:

[Disturbed]

6. I guess this stupid Sen Craig thing is amusing and a respite

from serious issues.

[uppityperson]

7. kcik for Iraqis and recommend for all of us

[Greyhound]

8. If I hadn't been reassured by so many "authorities", I would think there

was some kind of a civil war going on over there.

Oh well, not to worry, they were already such a violent bunch, so I mean... this surge is working out pretty well for them.:banghead:

[ProSense]

9. Kick! n/t