One of the most sacred shrines for Shiites, the Imam Ali mosque, was damaged Tuesday by some type of explosion outside its walls.

CNN: Iraqi cleric's aide arrested in Najaf

When asked why he released three men suspected of killing Abdul Majid al-Khoei, a London-based cleric stabbed to death on the steps of Najaf's Imam Ali shrine, he says he handed them over to the requisite authority, declining to say what that is.

ECONOMIST: Which does sound a bit too familiar

Karbala is where Muslim martyr Imam Hussein bin Ali -- grandson of the prophet Mohammed -- was killed and entombed more than 1, 300 years ago.

CNN: Pilgrims flood Karbala on final holy day

Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was the first imam.

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