Shias targeted as over 100 die in Iraq bomb attacks

More than 100 people have been killed after bombers targeted Shi'ite pilgrims celebrating a religious festival in Kerbala and Baghdad today.

In Baghdad, at least 75 people were killed in the capital's predominantly Shia Kadhimiya neighbourhood when four blasts rocked a mosque filled with worshippers.

Kerbala, which is situated around 50 miles south of Baghdad, was hit by six explosions this morning, killing at least 30 and injuring more than 100.

Both attacks occurred at around 10am local time, and both may have involved mortar-launched missiles.

There has been no official confirmation of the final death toll as yet.

It is not yet clear who is responsible for today's outrages, but tensions have been rising between the Sunni minority, from which Saddam Hussein drew his strongest support, and the Shia majority, which were often repressed by the Ba'athist regime.

Authorities suspect that by fomenting large-scale sectarian violence, terrorists plan to make Iraq ungovernable and draw more US troops into the firing line.

According to a letter, suspected to have been written by bin Laden's number two, Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, and intercepted by US forces last month, the Shia were "the key to change".

According to the text posted on the US Central Command website, al-Zaraqwi wrote: "Targeting and striking their [hia] religious, political and military symbols, will make them show their rage against the Sunnis and bear their inner vengeance. If we succeed in dragging them into a sectarian war, this will awaken the sleepy Sunnis who are fearful of destruction…

It adds: "Despite their weaknesses, the Sunnis are strong-willed and honest and different from the coward and deceitful Shia, who only attack the weak."

(gmcg)