BAGHDAD, August 29, SPA -- Authorities locked down access to the southern city of Karbala on Wednesday after fierce clashesbetween rival militias claimed more than 50 livesand forced an end to a massive religious festival. Security was heightened in other areas to prevent clashesfrom spreading. Elsewhere, an American soldier died Wednesday from woundssuffered the day before in fighting near the northern cityof Kirkuk, the U.S. military announced. Following two days of clashes, Prime Minister Nourial-Maliki, rushed to Karbala to meet with local officials trying to restore order and move the hordes of pilgrims who had descended on the city for the festival, the Associated Press reported. The Karbala office of al-Maliki's Dawa Party wasfirebombed during the melee. Sporadic gunbattles raged Wednesday near two shrinesprotected by the Badr Brigade, the armed wing of theSupreme Islamic Iraqi Council, although violence wastapering off.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/478360