HOLY KARBALA/ HOLY NAJAF: Hundreds of thousands of Husseini mourners have flocked in the holy city of Karbala to commemorate Ashura, and thousands of groups of white shroud-wearing men and little children are in the holy city to perform tatbeer (slash-open head with swords to shed their blood in memory of Al-Imam Al-Hussein), with a massive security operation in force.

Mourners in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf have begun tatbeer, Qama and Zanjir-zani (shedding blood from back with blades) Moharram 7 outside the holy shrines of Al-Imam Ali (p), Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) and Al-Abbas (p).

Around 8,000 security personnel have been deployed in and around Karbala for smooth passage of the ceremony Thursday, while the government has declared a two-day holiday from Wednesday.

Karbala police chief General Razeq Abd Ali al-Tayi said a tight security cordon has been set up around the city to protect it from any terrorism.

He added that US-led forces in Iraq would provide air support but would have no role on the ground in order to spare the sensitivities of the pilgrims.

Since Friday, all vehicles have been gradually discouraged from the streets of Karbala, culminating in an outright ban on Monday that prevents cars, trucks, bicycles and even carts from moving through the streets.

Also, Baghdad is under increased security on the eve of the mourning ceremony of Ashura, with roads closed to cars and additional checkpoints set up throughout the Iraqi capital.

Police announced they have closed bridges leading to the south of the country in effort to block a squad of suicide bombers reported to be headed south to disrupt the ceremonies being held in the holy city of Karbala.

The mournful thump of a drum announced parades of black-clad men moving across the city's car-less bridges, bearing colorful flags and remembering the martyrdom of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p).