There has been ferocious fighting in Karbala today as a result of strife during the Shiite pilgrimage to Karbala. The reports are sketchy at best, and in some cases contradictory.

Some of the best coverage has been collated at Gorilla’s Guides and that’s the place to look at the moment. The links seem to be all to Arabic language webpages at this time.

Perhaps the key items are:

The initial response was ineffective and the central government has sacked the commander of the IA forces and National Police on the ground. The Province Governor has been appointed in his place.

Casualties are overwhelming the hospitals.

Medical sources in the city’s hospitals say there are so many wounded that they are being treated in the corridors and the hospital grounds.

Ambulances have been unable to reach the scene of fighting - the area between the two shrines. Dead and wounded are being left were they lie. 7 Ambulances have crashed trying to bring out victims. Green zone government reinforcements are entering the city from the East and south.

Mahdi Army Fighters are battling against the central government forces.

Fighting is continuing in Karbala itself at least two green zone government soldiers have been killed by sniper fire. Also 4 hotels are on fire. There is fire near the shrine of Imam Abbas. Considerable damage is reported to the wall of the shrine of Imam Hussein. There is very intense fighting going on near the home of a local JAM commander. JAM fighters are deployed throughout the quarter and are armed with machine guns and missilie launchers according to the telephone report given by almelaf.

In related developments:

6 SIIC (SCIRI) offices have now been burnt down during fighting. The 6th such attack was in Hillah at least 5 people have been killed and 20 wounded during these clashes. Hilla is now under curfew.

SCIRI (now renamed SIIC) is the Iran-backed political organization of the cleric Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of the Badr Brigade.

In other Iraq news related to Iran,

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — U.S. troops raided a Baghdad hotel Tuesday night and detained about 10 people. A U.S.-funded radio station said the group included six members of an Iranian delegation here to negotiate contacts with the Iraqis.

The Iranian Embassy said seven Iranians - an embassy employee and six members of a delegation from Iran’s Electricity Ministry - were staying at the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel, which American forces entered late Tuesday.

Videotape shot by Associated Press Television News showed the Americans leading about 10 men, blindfolded and handcuffed, out of the hotel in central Baghdad.

Other U.S. soldiers left the hotel carrying what appeared to be luggage and at least one briefcase and a laptop computer bag.

U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver declined to comment, saying the action was part of an ongoing operation.

The Web site of Radio Sawa, an Arabic language station financed by the United States, said the Iranian delegation was in Baghdad to negotiate contracts on electric power stations. The report said the Iranians were detained and taken to an unknown location.

An Iranian diplomat told The Associated Press that the Iranian Embassy had notified Iraqi authorities about the Radio Sawa report. The diplomat refused to give his name.

Because, remember: No matter how many Iraqis fight and resist, no matter how many Americans occupiers they kill, the real enemy is Iran. Minister of Vengeance* Joe Lieberman (R-Tel Aviv) has said so.

* - A tip of the Kevlar helmet to Bill in Portland.