Despite attacks, pilgrims in Iraq mark holy day (AP)

BAGHDAD ? Iraqi police have boosted security as hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims converge on the city of Karbala for the holy day of Ashoura.

Provincial police spokesman Maj. Alaa Abbas says 33,000 Iraqi troops are protecting the worshippers. He says there are at least 1 million pilgrims in Karbala on Tuesday.

Ashoura marks the anniversary of the death in the seventh century of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein. His death in a battle outside Karbala sealed Islam's historical Sunni-Shiite split, which still bedevils the Middle East.

Karbala is 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad.

On Monday, five bomb attacks struck Shiite pilgrims in Iraq, killing 21 people.

Sunni militants who do not believe Shiites are true Muslims often attack their religious events.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111206/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq

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