Iraqi forces today detained a senior Health Ministry official accused of corruption and helping to funnel millions of pounds to Shiite militiamen blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in the capital, the US military said.

Thousands of people in Baghdad and its surroundings today flocked to the funerals of nearly 1,000 Shiite pilgrims killed in a mass stampede during a religious procession.

Panic engulfed thousands of Shiites marching across a bridge in a religious procession today after rumours spread that a suicide bomber was about to attack, triggering a stampede that killed at least 695 people.