Najaf, Iraq - A mortar shell explodes inside Imam Ali shrine

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | May 25, 2004

[HAL9000]

A mortar shell explodes inside the mausoleum of the imam Ali

A mortar shell exploded inside the mausoleum of the imam Ali in the Holy City Shiite of Najaf (center), wounding ten people, indicated to persons in charge for the office of the radical leader Shiite Moqtada Sadr to the AFP.

The higher part of one of the doors covered with gold of the mausoleum, driving with the tomb of Ali, was damaged and with rubble strewed the ground with the mausoleum, noted the correspondent of the AFP.

Ten people were wounded in the explosion, which occurred towards 11H00 (07H00 GMT) indicated persons in charge for the office of Sadr, showing the American troops to be responsible for the shooting.

Najaf is the theatre since the beginning of April of violent one confrontations between the American troops and the militiamans of Moqtada Sadr, cut off in the city to escape the coalition which wants it "dead or sharp".

Five civil was killed and 18 were wounded in the Holy City Shiite close to Koufa (center) in the night of Monday to Tuesday during confrontations between American militiamans Shiites and soldiers, according to medical sources.

[bayourod]

Well, isn't that nice.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

A mortar shell exploded inside the mausoleum of the imam Ali in the Holy City Shiite of Najaf, wounding ten people

Next time, don't keep mortar shells in your silly mausoleums, then. [::rimshot::] :)

[Orlando]

GOOD !

[elhombrelibre]

I think this is an odd story. I suspect something else blew up. Mortars are percussion primed. Maybe if it was dropped on the primer it'd take off, but most fuzes require a certain setback and such to arm. Just a guess, but I'd bet it was some other item the Sadr fighters set off.

[sgtbono2002]

I know the US didnt shoot that Mortar shell , because there is no report of women and kids being killed. American shells only kill women and kids.

[joesnuffy]

'command det; mortar shell that is....

[BillyCrockett]

And we wouldn't use mortars anyway. Couldn't hit the broadside of a mosque with em!

[MortMan]

And we wouldn't use mortars anyway. Couldn't hit the broadside of a mosque with em!

Besides, direct-fire HEAT rounds are so much more fun!!! (Does anyone here know what "DAT" stands for ??? :-)

[eastforker]

High Explosive Anti Tank, nasty little old round.

[MortMan]

That HEAT - Do you know DAT?!?

[eastforker]

It has been almost 30 years since Active Duty, I have no clue.

[MortMan]

DAT - Dumb A$$ Tanker (as defined by my Armor Captain instructor at OBC:-)

[Teacher317]

An Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim cries on the gate of the Imam Ali shrine in the holy city of Najaf May 25, 2004. The Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, the holiest Shi'ite site in Iraq (news - web sites), was damaged by rockets or mortars, witnesses said -- a development likely to spark outrage among Iraq's Shi'ite majority. (Ali Abu Shish/Reuters)

My, my, my, look at how pained the little Muslims are when they get a small indication of what they've been doing to the rest of the world's religions for decades.

Nice of Reuters to give the Shi'ites permission to riot and kill, though.

[sheik yerbouty]

Shi'ite happens! Allahu Fubar!