Baghdad, Oct 12: Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims marked a religious festival today in an Iraqi holy city as Shiite radicals seek to challenge the authority of the us-led occupation administration and its Iraq partners. In Tikrit, US troops of the 4th infantry division arrested three suspects in connection with a series of mortar attacks against the main US Military base there, the military said Sunday. The mortars struck the base yesterday but caused no damage nor casualties. Up to one million pilgrims gathered in Karbala to mark the birthday of Mohammed al-Mahdi, the last of the 12 Shiite imams who disappeared in the 9th century but who devout Shiites believe will return to rule the world. There was no violence, and by midday the crowds were returning home. The celebrations took place about two weeks before the Muslim month of fasting Ramadan and are expected to heighten religious sentiments as radical cleric Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr is challenging the authority of the US-led coalition and the US-appointed governing council, which serves as Iraq's interim leadership. Last week al-Sadr followers clashed earlier with the US military in Baghdad's Sadr city, a 2 million-resident slum and Iraq's largest Shiite enclave, where the young cleric holds sway. The battle left two American soldiers and at least one attacker dead.
Bureau Report