Wednesday, August 31 2005 15:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: About 637 people were killed today (August 31, 2005) in a stampede and attacks in Baghdad, including criminal poisoning near a Shiite shrine where thousands of the faithful were gathered, a security official said.

Over 300 killed in stampede near Shiite shrine
August 31 2005, 14:53 Hrs

More than 300 people heading for a Shiite shrine in northern Baghdad today (Aug 31, 2005) were killed in a huge crush when a railing on a bridge across the Tigris River collapsed, a police commander said.

Brig. Gen. Khalid Hassan said a total of 308 people had died in the stampede or were drowned after falling off the Al-Aima Bridge.

Hassan, who commands the police in the capital's Azamiyah district, said the accident occurred due to the immense crowd that tried to cross the bridge.

Television reports said about one million pilgrims from many parts of Baghdad and from outlying provinces had gathered near the Imam Mousa al-Kadim shrine in the capital's Kazimyah district for the annual commemoration the death of the Shiite saint.

Earlier, several mortar and rocket rounds hit the area around the shrine, killing seven people and injuring at least 40. A US military statement said Apache helicopters fired on the attackers after observing the rocket launches, which occurred about two hours before the bridge accident.