Millions of Shia pilgrims are gathering near a shrine in the holy city of Kerbala to commemorate Arbain, the 40th and final day of symbolic mourning for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.

Shia Muslims massed in the hundreds of thousands around Kerbala for one of the biggest events of their religious calendar as Iraqi security forces sealed off the city to protect the pilgrims.

A total of 62 Bulgarian soldiers have quit an occupation unit due to replace troops in