Suicide Bombers attack pilgrims in Iraq, killing dozens

By JOHN LELAND
Published: January 20, 2011
The New York Times online

BAGHDAD — Suicide bombers launched a series of deadly assaults on Thursday against pilgrims marching toward a shrine sacred to Shiite Muslims, the police said, and dozens were killed in a third straight day of attacks against an array of targets.

The pilgrimage, which was banned under Saddam Hussein, is expected to draw as many as 10 million people to the city of Karbala over a period of 10 days, and has been an annual flash point for sectarian violence. Until this week the holiday had been free of major bloodshed, and Iraqi security forces had claimed progress in their abilities to protect the populace from violent extremist groups.

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What carnage will ignite the flames that burn the cities of Babylon?