Shi'ite Sect, Iraqi Forces Clash in Basra; At least 5 Killed
By VOA News
18 January 2008
Iraqi police say clashes have broken out between security forces and armed members of a Shi'ite sect in the southern cities of Basra and Nasiriyah.
Latest reports quote local officials as saying at least five people were killed.
The fighting occurred despite curfews imposed in 10 southern provinces, as well as Baghdad and northern Diyala province during the 10-day annual Ashura religious observances - one of the holiest events for Shi'ite Muslims. There have been sectarian clashes during Ashura observances in the past.
Thousands of black-clad Shi'ite pilgrims from across Iraq and the rest of the Muslim world have converged on the Shi'ite holy city of Karbala to participate in the event. These rituals commemorate the seventh-century death in battle at Karbala of the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed.
In other news, U.S. coalition forces say they have killed 13 terrorists and detained three suspects during operations targeting al-Qaida networks in central and northern Iraq overnight into Friday.
And in Mosul, the U.S. military reports that an explosion partially collapsed a school, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
The cause of the explosion is not yet known.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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