HOLY CITIES OF NAJAF and KARBALA, Iraq: Tens of thousands of Iraqi troops and police have been deployed in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf for the 10-day Ashura Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS) as more than seven million mourners are expected to descend on Karbala in time for the climax of the annual rituals on Moharram 10, January 20.

Up to seven million mourners are expected to descend on Karbala in time for the climax of the annual rituals on January 20, many travelling on foot and exposed to attack by Sunni insurgents, who prey annually on the popular event.

Holy Najaf, site of the shrine of Imam Ali and headquarters of revered cleric Ayatollah Ali As-Sistani, is one of the main stopping points on the way and police there are taking no chances.

Najaf police chief Major General Abdullah Karim Mustafa told AFP, "Special security measures have been set up in the streets of Najaf and on the roads to Karbala."

He said some 20,000 troops and police will be in Najaf itself and 4,000 policemen are patrolling the 50-kilometre (30-mile) route to Karbala. Checkpoints have been set up along all routes to Karbala, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) south of Baghdad, and the security forces are using special equipment to detect explosives.

In Karbala itself, 12,000 Iraqi soldiers and police have been deployed along with a force of 3,000 members of a police rapid response unit, said city police chief Major General Raed Shakir.

"The security plan is finalised to protect the Ashura," he told reporters. "We have divided the city into 11 sectors and have deployed our forces."

Shakir said anti-riot police would also be out in force between the shrines to Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas.

"There will also be air cover by helicopters and we will have snipers on the roofs. We want Ashura to pass peacefully," he said.