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02/22/2006:

"Blast destroys Shia shrine"

A bomb attack destroyed the golden dome of one of Iraq's holiest Shia shrines today, sparking demonstrations and calls for revenge amongst the protesters.

There were no confirmed casualties in the explosion, which took place at 6.55am (0355 GMT) at the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad. Early reports had quoted police saying they feared people may have been be buried under the debris.

Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, said two armed men wearing special forces uniforms broke into the shrine, overcame the guards and set off explosives.

The shrine - one of the four holiest Shia sites in Iraq - was extensively damaged and the mosque's golden dome destroyed.

Mr al-Rubaie blamed Sunni militants for the bombing but insisted they would not draw Iraq into a civil war. He appealed for calm.

Up to 2,000 protesters in Najaf called on Shias to "rise up" and "take revenge" for the attack on the shrine, which contains the tombs of two Shia imams reputed to be descendants of the prophet Muhammad. It is part of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum.

"This criminal act aims at igniting civil strife," said Mahmoud al-Samarie, a 28-year-old builder. "We demand an investigation so that the criminals who did this be punished. If the government fails to do so, then we will take arm and chase the people behind this attack."

The Iraqi prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, declared three days of mourning and appealed for unity. He called the apparently sectarian attack an assault on all Muslims.
guardian.co.uk


Blast kills 22 as Straw calls for end to sectarianism

First promote 'sectarianism' and then speak out piously about stopping it. Yeah right.