Baghdad, Aug 3 (DPA) More than 21,000 Iraqi soldiers will provide security for Shia Muslims gathering in the city of Karbala in the coming days, a senior military officer said Monday.

Hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims are expected to converge on the tomb of Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, who was killed in battle in Karbala in the year 680.

In contrast to previous years, US forces will not help maintain security for the pilgrimage, Lieutenant-General Othmanal-Ghanemi, head of security for the city, said.

Helicopter gunships and three armoured battalions will support the tens of thousands of Iraqi police and soldiers, according to al-Ghanemi.

This year's pilgrimage comes close on the heels of increased sectarian violence between Iraq's Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Five consecutive bombings targeting mosques associated with Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's movement left 30 people dead and more than 100 wounded Friday.