Kurds mark Halabja anniversary

Baghdad: Kurds in northern Iraq are marking the 20th anniversary of the infamous chemical weapons attack in Halabja.

Shops were closed for most of the day as Iraqi security forces patrolled the streets.

The incident, which was orchestrated by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to crush a rebellion, killed an estimated 5,600 people.

It was viewed by Baghdad as aiding Iran at the end of its war with Iraq.