2 Iranian pilgrims killed in Iraqi hotel fire

TEHRAN, Fed. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least two Iranian women pilgrims were killed in hotel fire in the Iraqi city of Najaf on Monday, Iran Daily reported.

Morteza Aqaei, an official at Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, said that three other Iranian pilgrims were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.

Other reports also said that over a hundred pilgrims have suffered from smoke inhalation.

As for the cause of incident, Aqaei said that fire started on the third floor of Al-Nasir Hotel after a curtain near a heater caught fire.