Photo Galleries

An actor portraying Imam Hussein cradles his dying brother, Abbas, as they perform in a re-enactment of the story of the death of Imam Hussein as Shiites observe Ashoura in eastern Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Ashoura observances mark the seventh century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in a battle near Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, that was a key event in Islam's split into the majority Sunni and minority Shiite branches. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A Pakistani Shiite Muslims beat their chests during a Muharram procession in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. The back of the man on the right is scarred from past processions where he and other devotees slashed their backs with knives. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is observed around the world for ten days of mourning in remembrance of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim boy is comforted by his male relatives after flagellating himself with knife blades on chains during a Muharram procession in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar is observed around the world for ten days of mourning in remembrance of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim cries after beating himself with knives in chain to mourn the death of his spiritual leader Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed who was martyred in Karbala, Iraq, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Kamal Khan)

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim beats himself with knives in chain to mourn the death of his spiritual leader Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed who was martyred in Karbala, Iraq, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

An Afghan metalsmith sharpens a knife for Ashura procession in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Jan. 5, 2008. Shiites are preparing to mark Ashura, the tenth day of the Muharram festival, commemorating ten days of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of Muhammad who was killed in the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, in the year A.D. 680. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

Iraqi Shiites flay themselves with chains on the eve of Ashura, the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, on January 6, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi Shiites celebrate the religious festival of Ashura which is commemorated by the Shi'a as a day of remembrance for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala. Ashura, meaning the tenth day in Arabic, is the tenth day of Muharam, the first month in the Islamic calendar. The holiday has also become a target of violence between Sunni and Shia extremists. (Photo by Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty Images)

Iranian beat themselves with metal chains, during a religious procession ahead of Ashura in Gilan province, Talesh, some 400 kms (240 miles) north of Tehran on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009. Sheep are seen before sacrifice in ceremony. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

A vendor sells food items outside a Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari (KASB) Bank Ltd. branch in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. Pakistan's central bank, commercial banks, stock exchanges and government offices will be closed on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8 for Ashura, the ninth and 10th days of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar. Photographer: Asad Zaidi/Bloomberg News

A shopper consults with a sales person at a store in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. Photographer: Asad Zaidi/Bloomberg News

Afghan Shiites flagellate themselves with knives during the Ashura procession in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

Lebanese Shiite Muslim sheiks, weep as they listen to the death story of Imam Hussein, during Ashoura day held by Hezbollah, in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Lebanese Shiite Muslim woman, reacts as she listens to the death story of Imam Hussein, during Ashoura day held by Hezbollah, in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Bahraini listens to a sermon Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in Muharraq, Bahrain, during the commemoration of Ashoura, day when Shiite Muslims mourn the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's founding Prophet Muhammed. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Shiite Muslim supporters of the Hezbollah, raise their fists as they shout slogans in support of pro-Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah during a march to mark Ashoura Day in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese Hezbollah supporters, gather to listen to the speech of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah during Ashoura day, in a suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. Nasrallah has vowed to crush any Israeli offensive against Lebanon. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Iraqi Shiites beat their chests as they mark Ashura in Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, who was killed in 680 A.D. during the battle of Karbala. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)

Iranian and Iraqi Shiite Muslims beat themselves in a mourning ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, on the holy day of Ashoura, marking the anniversary of the 7th century death in battle of one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints.. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

The shadow of a Bahraini mourner flagellating himself with a chain whip is seen Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in Muharraq, Bahrain, as he passes a blood-splattered Israeli flag drawn on the pavement for participants in Shiite religious processions to walk on. Israeli strikes in Gaza prompted the flag painting, next to an American flag with skulls for stars, during Ashoura, when Shiite Muslims mourn the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's founding Prophet Muhammed. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Bahraini men rhythmically beating their chests in mourning lead a horse at the head of a Shiite religious procession over symbolic Israeli and American flags Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in Muharraq, Bahrain. Israeli strikes in Gaza prompted the flag paintings on a main procession route for Ashoura, when Shiite Muslims mourn the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's founding Prophet Muhammed. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

A Lebanese Shiite Muslim woman, holds Palestinian flags during Ashoura day held by Hezbollah, in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Bahraini raises his bloodied hand in the air Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, in Muharraq, Bahrain, during the commemoration of Ashoura, day when Shiite Muslims mourn the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's founding Prophet Muhammed. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Lebanese Shiite Muslims, cut themselves as they mark Ashoura Day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A Lebanese Shiite young girl, cries as a man cuts her forehead with a razor to mark Ashoura Day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Lebanese Shiite Muslim boy, is stained by his own blood from wounds during Ashoura Day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Shiite Muslim worshippers raise their knives, after cutting themselves to mark the Muslim festival of Ashoura in the Sadr City area of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Lebanese Shiite Muslimveiled women, seen near young girls march during Ashoura day held by Hezbollah, in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)