Iraq crisis

Volunteers in the newly formed "Peace Brigades” participate in a parade near the Imam Ali shrine in the southern holy Shiite city of Najaf, Wednesday, June 18, 2014 after calls by the radical Shiite cleric Muqtatda al-Sadr to form brigades to protect Shiite holy shrines against possible attacks by Sunni militants. 

Volunteers in the newly formed 'Peace Brigades'

In this Tuesday, June 17, 2014 photo, Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters wearing military uniforms raise their weapons and chant slogans against the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents, in Baghdad's Sadr city, Iraq. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine. 

Shiite tribal fighters get ready to fight

In this Tuesday, June 17, 2014 photo, Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons and chant slogans against the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents, in Baghdad's Sadr city, Iraq. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine.

Shiite tribal fighters answer call to arms

Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters wearing military uniforms chant slogans against the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Baghdad's Sadr city, Iraq, Tuesday, June 17, 2014, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine. 

Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters chant slogans

 Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons and chant slogans against the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents, in Baghdad's Sadr city, Iraq,  Wednesday, June 18, 2014. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine.

Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons

Iraqi men line up at the main army recruiting center to volunteer for military service in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 19, 2014, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents. The campaign by the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State militants has raised the specter of the sectarian warfare that nearly tore the country apart in 2006 and 2007, with the popular mobilization to fight the insurgents taking an increasingly sectarian slant, particularly after Iraq's top Shiite cleric made a call to arms on Friday.

Iraq crisis

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