KARBALA/ Aswat al-Iraq: Mid-Euphrates Operations Command disclosed arresting 66 Qaeda members and seizing ammunition, weapons and explosives in a pre-emptive strike to secure the march of the visitors to Karbala holy shrines.
In a press conference Staff General Othman al-Ghanimi, attended by Aswat al-Iraq, said that Qaeda members were planning to strike the visitors in the Mid-Euphrates sector.
He added that 35000 security personnel were allocated to control the situation during this annual visit.
Ghanimi pointed out that army air force will participate in the security plan, in addition to Iraqi air force.
This annual visit is to commemorate the 40th day of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, where visitors from Iraq and abroad come on foot.
Karbala, center of the province, lies 108 km south west of the capital, Baghdad.