CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Jane Arraf is covering a lot today. She joins us live now from Karbala. Jane, are there still demonstrations in the streets?</s>JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Carol, they're more like celebrations, and they've been going on for hours, probably about 12 hours now. Now, hundreds of thousands of Shias have streamed into the city. This is a holy city. And behind me, the mosque where Hussein (ph), the grandson of the prophet Mohammed was buried. They have come here to pray for the return of a religious leader who disappeared in the ninth century who they believe is still alive. And on his return, the day of judgment will follow. Now, they haven't been able to celebrate this occasion like this for decades. It's absolutely extraordinary. They have been dancing in the streets, as I say, for hours now. They've been lighting candles, praying at the tombs. And in the background, there are announcements from one of the main religious clerics, one of the main Shia leaders, a young cleric named</s>LIN: Jane, this declaration for an independent Islamic state, how threatening is that to the work that the U.S. coalition is now trying to do to rebuild Iraq?</s>ARRAF: It certainly</s>LIN: All right. Certainly interesting implications. Thank you very much. Jane Arraf reporting live there from Karbala. USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Update On Religious Demonstrations In Iraq