Abadan, Khuzestan Prov, Nov 19, IRNA � Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Thursday that Tehran and Baghdad would increase cooperation to provide necessary services for the pilgrims heading to Iraq on the occassion of the Arbaeen mourning ceremony.

Speaking to reporters in this southwestern province, the minister said talks have been held between Iranian and Iraqi officials on improving the quality of services for the Arbaeen mourners.

The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shiite Muslims.

Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

'We are trying to create favorable conditions for the pilgrims,' said Rahmani Fazli who flew to this southwestern province earlier on Thursday to visit the infrastructures of two border cities of Shalamcheh and Chazzabeh.

It is predicted that over a million people will travel to Karbala, Iraq, through Shalamcheh borderline.

By IRNA