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22/02/2006
Blast wrecks Shia shrine
Bombers have seriously damaged one of Shia Islam's most holy sites in Iraq.
The al-Askari shrine in Samarra was severely damaged in an early morning raid carried out by two bombers.
The shrine's golden dome was blasted off in the attack and there have been reports of reprisal raids on Sunni holy sites in other parts of the country.
The religious leader of Iraq's Shia Muslims has called for a week of mourning.
Concern is growing that the attacks and reprisals are likely to escalate an already tense situation between Iraq's Sunni and Shia communities.
There are no reports of injuries in the attack on the shrine, but the previous day 22 Shia Muslims were killed in a car bombing of a market.
UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, who visited Iraq earlier this week, condemned the attack on the Shi'ite shrine in Iraq.
He said: "I would like to say some words of condemnation about today's attack on one of the holiest Shiite religious sites in Iraq, the Askariya Shrine in Samarra.
"This criminal and sacrilegious act, follows a series of recent attacks on innocent Iraqis. It is a blatant and despicable attempt by terrorists to try to ignite civil strife and to disrupt the process of forming a new Iraqi government. The massive turnout in December's elections to choose that government and the condemnation already of this horrendous attack from all sides show that the terrorists' mission is failing.
"All of us have to appreciate the scale of the anguish caused by the destruction of the golden dome of this most important and historic Shiite site. But it is vital that all groups in Iraq and elsewhere show restraint at this sensitive time and avoid retaliation. It is for the government authorities to investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
"As I know from my visit to Iraq over the last two days, the Iraqi people have shown that they want a peaceful and democratic future headed by a government of national unity, which rises above sectarian violence, and its our job to support them in that."
Mr Straw said that he planned to consult with the Muslim community in Britain on how the UK might contribute to the reconstruction of the site.
He said that he hoped to speak to Iraqi Prime Minister Ja'afari later today.
The al-Askari shrine is the burial place of reverred Shia imams and attracts pilgrims from around the world.
(SP/GB)
The al-Askari shrine in Samarra was severely damaged in an early morning raid carried out by two bombers.
The shrine's golden dome was blasted off in the attack and there have been reports of reprisal raids on Sunni holy sites in other parts of the country.
The religious leader of Iraq's Shia Muslims has called for a week of mourning.
Concern is growing that the attacks and reprisals are likely to escalate an already tense situation between Iraq's Sunni and Shia communities.
There are no reports of injuries in the attack on the shrine, but the previous day 22 Shia Muslims were killed in a car bombing of a market.
UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, who visited Iraq earlier this week, condemned the attack on the Shi'ite shrine in Iraq.
He said: "I would like to say some words of condemnation about today's attack on one of the holiest Shiite religious sites in Iraq, the Askariya Shrine in Samarra.
"This criminal and sacrilegious act, follows a series of recent attacks on innocent Iraqis. It is a blatant and despicable attempt by terrorists to try to ignite civil strife and to disrupt the process of forming a new Iraqi government. The massive turnout in December's elections to choose that government and the condemnation already of this horrendous attack from all sides show that the terrorists' mission is failing.
"All of us have to appreciate the scale of the anguish caused by the destruction of the golden dome of this most important and historic Shiite site. But it is vital that all groups in Iraq and elsewhere show restraint at this sensitive time and avoid retaliation. It is for the government authorities to investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
"As I know from my visit to Iraq over the last two days, the Iraqi people have shown that they want a peaceful and democratic future headed by a government of national unity, which rises above sectarian violence, and its our job to support them in that."
Mr Straw said that he planned to consult with the Muslim community in Britain on how the UK might contribute to the reconstruction of the site.
He said that he hoped to speak to Iraqi Prime Minister Ja'afari later today.
The al-Askari shrine is the burial place of reverred Shia imams and attracts pilgrims from around the world.
(SP/GB)
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