Vehicle ban in Baghdad for Shiite ritual

Iraqi authorities imposed an indefinite ban on all vehicles in the Baghdad area Saturday in advance of a major Shiite religious ceremony, government television announced.

News of the ban came hours after a car bomb killed seven people and wounded dozens near Baghdad's most important Shiite shrine. Sunni extremists have staged attacks in the past during Shiite festivals, which have drawn huge crowds since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.

It was the second vehicle ban in Baghdad this month in connection with Shiite rituals.

The latest ban was ordered to protect Shiite pilgrims traveling to Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, to attend ceremonies marking the birthday of the "Hidden Imam," a 9th century religious figure who devout Shiites believe will return to Earth to usher in the rule of peace.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070825/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq