Thousands of Shiite pilgrims mark end of Arbaeen

(28 Nov 2015) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY Baghdad - 28 November 2015 1. Various of Shiite pilgrims starting out on walk to holy city of Karbala, some of them carrying religious flags and banners 2. Group of women dressed in black, carrying religious flags and walking 3. Low angle of pilgrims' feet 4. Various of pilgrims walking 5. Various of security troops searching pilgrims 6. Various of security troops deployed along road leading to Karbala 7. Brigadier General Malik al-Maliki talking to an officer 8. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Brigadier General Malik al-Maliki: ''We prepared a wide-scale security plan, including federal police, facilities protection security, intelligence and other security forces to protect pilgrims from any attack.'' 9. Pilgrims queuing for free food 10. Man preparing meat 11. Wide of pilgrims eating STORYLINE: Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shiite Muslims on Saturday started making their way on foot to the holy city of Karbala to mark the end of the Arbaeen festival. Security was tight as pilgrims embarked on the long journey from cities across Iraq, including the capital Baghdad, escorted by soldiers and security forces. Brigadier General Malik al-Maliki told AP television a wide-scale security plan had been prepared to "protect pilgrims from any attack." Arbaeen marks the 40th day of a mourning period commemorating the seventh century death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, the Shiite saint Imam Hussein. The celebration of Arbaeen will reach its climax on Wednesday and Thursday when the pilgrims converge on Karbala, where Imam Hussein and his half-brother Imam Abbas are buried. Insurgents have previously staged attacks on Shiites during Arbaeen. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected] (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...