Iraqi authorities say that more than 2 million Shi’ite pilgrims descended on Iraq’s holy city of Karbala, with no major violence reported amid tight security.
Shi’ite Muslims from across Iraq, along with thousands of foreign pilgrims — most dressed in black — streamed into Karbala to mark Ashura, an emotive ritual in which the faithful beat their heads and chests and gash their heads with swords to mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein in Karbala in 680.
The event defines Shi’ism and its split from Sunni Islam.
17 December 2010 – The Security Council today called on Iraq to fulfil the commitments it has made to find Kuwaiti or third country nationals, property and archives lost in Saddam Hussein’s invasion of his small neighbour more than 20 years ago.
Palm – to urge UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday Iraq to translate the statements of good intentions towards the issues of missing Kuwaitis and nationals of third world countries and the return of property to the tangible results suggesting the formation of Iraq’s inter-ministerial committee to guide and coordinate efforts in the search for the missing Kuwaitis.
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Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, on Friday, that the agreement on the structure of the new government reached its final stages and will be announced in the coming days, noting that it would retain the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Alliance, as well as the Ministry of Oil, while likely to give the Ministry of Finance of the coalition in Iraq.
BAGHDAD // A political breakthrough this week has kept a fragile power-sharing deal alive, but major hurdles remain to Iraq forming a national unity government.
KARBALA: Iraqi forces will provide security for Ashura ceremonies this week in Karbala with no active support from US forces, in a key test of their capabilities ahead of an American pullout in a year.
Congress ruled that the witness of the parliamentary session scheduled for Saturday to Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki and some of the names of his cabinet ministers of the new non-arrival of the political blocs to a final consensus.
