Sunday, Feb 20, 2005
Attacks on Shias continue in Iraq; eight killed
By Atul Aneja
MANAMA, FEB. 19. There has been no let-up in violence targeting Iraqi Shias, with at least eight more persons dying while observing Ashura — the holiest day in the Shia calendar. Up to five persons were killed when mortars were fired at worshippers who were on their way to a shrine in Baghdad. Besides, a suicide bomber reportedly set off explosives in the midst of mourners who were in a funeral procession in west Baghdad. Three persons were killed in the incident.
Today's attacks come after heavy violence on Friday where Shias were the main targets of multiple attacks. At least 40 persons, including 26 Shias were killed in the serial explosions, which targeted three Shia mosques in Baghdad, and another in the oil city of Kirkuk in the northern part of the country. More blasts were also reported in other parts of Iraq.
Five U.S. soldiers killed
Besides, there was confirmation on Friday that five U.S. soldiers had been killed in various locations of the occupied nation. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of worshippers gathered in Karbala on the final day of the Ashura ceremonies. Thousands of Shias marched through the city early on Saturday morning, bearing green Islamic posters of Hussein, the martyred grandson of Prophet Mohammad.
Ashura marks the death Hussein 1,300 years ago. Security in Karbala has been tight as 180 worshippers in this city and Baghdad were killed in a series of explosions last year while observing Ashura.
Entry of vehicles into sensitive locations was banned, and layers of checkpoints were positioned to prevent any attackers from entering the city. Hospital officials have put up a tent in order to attend to emergencies and expanded the capacity of the mortuary as a contingency measure.
Meanwhile, Iraq's interim National Security Adviser, Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, blamed the militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and former Ba'ath Party members for yesterday's attacks.
He said that the strikes were meant to provoke a civil war in the country. But a leading Shia group said on Friday that it would not be provoked into reprisals. Mohsen al-Hakim, political adviser to Abdul Aziz al-Hakim — head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) said more attacks targeting Shias were expected.
"The only way to fight them is by having strong security organisations," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
Differences crop up
In related developments, differences are cropping up between the Shia majority in the new Iraqi National Assembly and Kurds over provisions in the U.S. imposed Transitional Administrative Law (TAL).
The TAL prescribes how the country's new constitution is to be written. Under this law, any of Iraq's three groups can veto the new constitution that will be written in the next few months, even if the majority approved it. The United Iraqi Alliance-a Shia grouping with maximum number of seats in Parliament has rejected this condition and Iraq's top Shia spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has warned the U.N. Security Council not to approve this provision.
Copyright © 2005, The Hindu.