Sepcial Report:Tension accelerates in Iraq

    

Hundreds of thousands of Shiites pilgrims cross al-Sarrafiyah bridge heading towards Shiite Imam Musa al-Kadhim's shrine in the al-Kadhimiah district north of Baghdad. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 20 were killed and more than 300 others wounded as gunmen fired on crowds of Shiite pilgrims druing their religious processions in Baghdad on Sunday, according to Iraqi health ministry officials.

    Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims crowded the streets of Baghdad, heading to honor the death of Imam Mousa al-Kadim, the seventh of the 12 most sacred Shiite imams.

    The attacks, "carried out by terrorists and Sunni extremists," took place in streets of six neighborhoods including the al-Fadhel, al-Haifa and al-Salekh in the city center.

    Many pilgrims were attacked by snipers from rooftops, while most of the others, among those 300 injured, fell while running to escape gunfire in the Sunni Arab-dominated areas along the parade routes.

    Earlier, the ministry said at least 16 Shiite pilgrims were killed and about 230 others wounded, highlighting an escalation of sectarian tensions in Iraq.

    Four suspect gunmen were reportedly killed by security forces.¡¡

    During last year's ceremony, about 1,000 Shiite pilgrims, most of them women and children, were killed in a deadly stampede on a bridge over the Tigris River when rumors of suicide bombs circulated.

    In a bid to curb violence and prevent attacks against Shiite pilgrims, the Iraqi authorities had been tightening security in the capital ahead of the ceremony -- an opportunity for sectarian attacks.

    The government said in a statement it was "absolutely forbidden" to carry weapons, cell phones or any type of bags, even plastic bags, into the shrine.  Enditem

    (Agencies)