Posted on 09/01/2005 8:49:58 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the U.S. occupation forces in Iraq should be "held accountable" for Wednesday's deadly stampede in which nearly 1,000 Iraqis died, AFP reported.
“It is certain that Iraq’s occupiers, who have imposed their evil presence in Iraq under the pretext of bringing security, are responsible for such devastating accidents and they must be held accountable,” Khamenei said.
“I urge Iraqis to maintain their unity and disappoint the enemy, which aims to create disunity by such plots,” he added.
At least 1,000 Shiite pilgrims died and 800 others wounded on Wednesday in a stampede during a religious procession in Baghdad, the deadliest incident since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Reports said the stampede was sparked by rumors on an imminent attack.
Iraq's Interior Minister Bayan Jabor blamed a "terrorist" for spreading a rumor that there was a human bomber among the crowd.
"What happened is that people started pushing and crushing after one terrorist spread rumour that there was a suicide bomber in the crowd," Jabor said.
"Suspicious hands" The official IRNA news agency reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to express his "sadness over this terrorist incident, condemn such savage acts and offer Iran’s help to the Iraqi people and government".
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi also voiced condolences of the Iranian government to the Iraqi government, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Asefi said that "suspicious hands" were behind this tragedy to create "tension and bloodshed" among Iraq's various ethnic groups.
"Iraqi people should practice vigilance and solidarity to neutralize this conspiracy," he said.
However, Iraq's Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi ruled out that the stampede was related to sectarian tensions.
(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"Iran blames U.S. for Iraq stampede"
Oh goody, let me guess...IT'S BUSH'S FAULT!!
Note to Al J - Iran blames the U.S. for JUST about everything ;-)
Oh my, the Iranians must get buy their theories from the Democtrats and MoveOn.org....
Shiites are always hurting themselves in their mass self-inflicted S&M parties. A rumor that a terrorist suicide bomber is somehow the US's fault????
Am I the only one that finds it disturbing to call these people "pilgrims"?
You kidding, it's the Iranians sending the suicide bombers.
Its all Bush's fault! Iran's Supreme Leader sounds like a Democrat.
Where do you think he got his talking points?
Al Jezeera - read no further.
Pray for him.
The real meaning of this slaughter of innocents on the bridge:
Get ready for Civil War to break out in Iraq. It will be starting this weekend.
Just my humble opinion, people.
No. It's Rummy's and Cheney's fault. I hope our guys keep on pushing. Now, where are Generals Pushing and Patton from the Greatest Generation? And as a follow on, I wish my Dad were still alive as a WWII Navy Commander. It is so sad that we're so PC today. The jack-asses in Congress today are so afraid in doing battle. My brother was a helo-evac pilot in 1973, He saw a lot of our guys shot up. He is livid with the mentality today, similar to three decades ago. He wishes he could pilot an A10.... I do too. But he's 57 and the military refuse to hire even contractors or anyone that wants to help our military. BTW, my brother builds heliports... all over the world. He has been working on projects with the domestic off-shore private sector in retor-fitting their flight decks on the off-shore platforms.
Every single day Siena. Thank you!
Wow! Your brother has an impressive resume! Thank him for me for his service to our country! God bless!
Didnt they also just blame something else on us as well? Was only a few weeks ago and I can't remember what it was. I really cant wait until they are blown off the FACE OF THE EARTH so 1- we dont have to hear these Islamic pieces of trash anymore 2-They can blame us for real if any survive 3-Even more liberals will either off themselves or leave the USA. Either way, we win
The supreme leader of Iran isn't an elected person.
This guy is a self=select leader!
Nobody in that regime is elected... all of them are CHOSEN or selected!
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