Reports state that at least 25 people have been killed in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Karbala, Iran in clashes between supporters of a religious leader and Iraqi police.
Clashes began on Tuesday night as followers of outspoken Shiite cleric Mahmud al-Hasani al-Sarakhi were prevented from marching to the shrine of Hussein, the martyred grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, by Iraqi security forces.
Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Baghdad, said Sarakhi had criticised other religious leaders in the city for being under Iranian influence and that of top Iraqi Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
According to the reporter, Sarakhi is now hiding with some of his supporters in his office, which is being beseiged by Iraqi forces supported by helicopters.
The incident has been the deadliest at the site in years.
Source: World Bulletin
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