Triumphant Iraqis Celebrate Soccer Win

After Asian Cup victory, revelry and gunfire erupt in Baghdad
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 29, 2007 3:16 PM CDT
Triumphant Iraqis Celebrate Soccer Win
Iraqi people wave their flags during celebrations after the Iraq soccer team won the Asian Cup, in streets of the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, July 29, 2007. Iraqi national soccer team defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Asian Cup soccer final...   (Associated Press)

Iraqis celebrated their national soccer team's triumph in the Asian Cup today in an emotional bout of revelry marked by joyful gunfire in the streets of Baghdad. "We achieved the dream. Allahu Akbar!" a crying fan told Iraqiya state television after Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia 1 to 0 in Jakarta.

Security remained tight after suicide bombers at Wednesday's victory celebration killed more than 50 Iraqis; police imposed a vehicle curfew at 4 PM in Baghdad to stay in effect until 6 AM tomorrow. Iraqi security forces arrested two men in a car filled with explosives which they say was preparing to attack soccer fans. (More Iraq stories.)

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