Eight killed as Iraq Shi'ites converge on festival

KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) - Mortars killed eight people as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims converged on an Iraqi holy city on Friday for a religious festival where Shi'ite leaders renewed demands for sweeping new powers in their region.

Organizers, who say visitors to Kerbala could reach 2 million by Saturday's climax, said a heavy security presence by police and Iraqi troops had so far succeeded in keeping out the Sunni al Qaeda suicide bombers who have hit previous rituals.

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