Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide bomber disguised as a policeman targeted Shiite pilgrims Saturday outside the southern Iraqi city of Basra, killing at least 20 people and wounding 70, according to authorities and state-run TV. The bomber struck a police checkpoint near a Shiite mosque where many of the pilgrims were headed to mark a revered holy day, the end of a 40-day mourning period known as Arbaeen, Interior Ministry officials said. There were conflicting casualty nfl headset reports, with state-run Al Iraqiya reporting there were at least 20 people killed and 70 wounded, while Interior Ministry officials told CNN there were at least 10 dead and 30 wounded. Conflicting reports are common in Iraq in the aftermath of an attack. Scores of pilgrims -- who make the journey on foot -- have been killed and wounded in recent days in attacks blamed on Sunni extremists, who have routinely targeted the pilgrims. Arbaeen, considered one of the holiest days in the Shiite sect, commemorates NFL jerseys the seventh century death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Hussein was killed during a battle near Karbala for control of the Muslim nation following Mohammed's death Authentic nfl jerseys in 632. Hussein's death led to a split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. During Saddam Hussein's rule, the Sunni leader forbade pilgrims from making the journey on foot. He also banned some ritualistic practices. Following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, the pilgrimages grew in numbers. This year's pilgrimage comes just weeks after the U.S. military pulled its troops from the country ahead of an end-of-the-year deadline to withdraw.
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Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide bomber disguised as a policeman targeted Shiite pilgrims Saturday outside the southern Iraqi city of Basra, killing at least 20 people and wounding 70, according to authorities and state-run TV. The bomber struck a police checkpoint near a Shiite mosque where many of the pilgrims were NFL jerseys china headed to mark a revered holy day, the end of a 40-day mourning period known as Arbaeen, Interior Ministry officials said. There were conflicting casualty reports, with state-run Al Iraqiya reporting there were at least 20 people killed and 70 wounded, while Interior Ministry officials told CNN there NFL jersey supply were at least 10 dead and 30 wounded. Conflicting reports are common in Iraq in the aftermath of an attack. Scores of pilgrims -- who make the journey on foot -- have been killed and wounded in recent days in attacks blamed on Sunni extremists, who have routinely targeted the pilgrims. Arbaeen, considered one of the holiest days in the Shiite sect, commemorates the seventh century death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Hussein was killed during a battle near Karbala for control of the Muslim nation following Mohammed's death in 632. Hussein's death led to a split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. During Saddam Hussein's rule, the Sunni leader forbade pilgrims from making the nfl headset journey on foot. He also banned some ritualistic practices. Following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, the pilgrimages grew in numbers. This year's pilgrimage comes just weeks after the U.S. military pulled its troops from the country ahead of an end-of-the-year deadline to withdraw.
