IRAQ-RELIGION-SHIITES-ASHURA-UNREST

As tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims flock to the shrine city of Karbala to commemorate Ashura, the holiest mourning rite on their religious calendar, fighting has sprung up around them. US officials said Monday that around 300 Shiite militants were killed in a blistering battle with Iraqi security forces backed by US air strikes near Najaf. Ashura, a commemoration of the seventh-century slaying of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein on the orders of Sunni caliph Yazid, has become a target for Sunni insurgents over the past few years, as pilgrims pour into Karbala from across Iraq and the Muslim world. This report looks at the perils of their pilgrimage to the commemoration. which culiminates on Tuesday. (Footage by AFPTV via Getty Images)