Posted on 08/25/2004 11:43:33 PM PDT by Gucho
At least 25 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suspected mortar attack on a mosque near the troubled city of Najaf, say hospital officials. The mosque in Kufa and its compound were packed with people at the time, according to AP news agency.
It also says the mosque is used by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr whose fighters are under siege in Najaf.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
At least 25 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suspected mortar attack on a mosque near the troubled city of Najaf, say hospital officials. The mosque in Kufa and its compound were packed with people at the time, according to AP news agency.
It also says the mosque is used by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr whose fighters are under siege in Najaf.
The blast comes as Iraq's leading Shia cleric heads to Najaf with thousands of supporters to try to end the conflict.
He is to announce a peace plan a day after returning to Iraq from abroad.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani set out from the southern city of Basra early on Thursday to make the journey of 400km (250 miles) to Najaf in a convoy of cars and buses packed with Shia Muslim faithful.
Among the convoy were supporters of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose fighters are believed to remain in control of Najaf's Imam Ali shrine complex.
Helicopters hovered above the stream of vehicles headed to Najaf while armed guards in sports utility vehicles protected the ayatollah.
The journey was expected to take several hours.
Peace plan
In Basra, Ayatollah Sistani met representatives of the Iraqi interim government.
Ayatollah Sistani has brokered peace in Najaf before His plan envisages weapons-free zones in both Najaf and Kufa, a Sadr stronghold, aides said.
Iraqi police would replace foreign troops in the demilitarised city while compensation would be paid to people affected by the fighting, they said. He also called for "all believers" to march to Najaf - his home city - to try to end the military confrontation.
Najaf's police chief has asked people to stay away.
"They could be putting their lives in danger," Maj Gen Ghalib al-Jazaari was quoted as saying by AP news agency.
Ending the crisis
US warplanes bombed targets in Najaf late on Wednesday and Iraqi and US troops have imposed tight controls on the city, preventing cars from entering.
Ayatollah Sistani left Iraq for medical treatment in London just as the uprising in Najaf began. He returned in a convoy from Kuwait and was met with a rapturous welcome.
Correspondents say there are hopes Ayatollah Sistani can finally end the stand-off. The ayatollah was instrumental in brokering an earlier ceasefire.
"I have come for the sake of Najaf and I will stay in Najaf until the crisis ends," Ayatollah Sistani said on Wednesday.
animals
I guess this mosque didn't make the "most holy list".
He is to announce a peace plan a day after returning to Iraq from abroad.
Oh sure. Now that he knows we are serious he decides to head for the area. Loser.
The Kufa mosque is now more holey than the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf.
More bombs, less bullets.
As in swiss cheese?
The bottom line remains that the only good Sadr is a dead Sadr. (Kept in mind he's still accused of the assassination of another cleric who was older and more respected than Sadr.
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