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140 killed in Iraq
140 killed in Iraq’s worst attacks
CHINWE MADUAGWU, with foreign report
MORE
than 140 Iraqi Shia worshippers were killed in separate attacks, in Baghdad and
Karbala yesterday as they filed out celebrating the Ashura festival, thus
bringing the celebration to a bloody and tragic ending.
The attacks described as the bloodiest
since the end of the war, left more than 400 others wounded.
According to reports, a number of
explosions hit the cities of Kabala and Baghdad in what appeared to be
coordinated attacks on Shia Muslims celebrating one of their holiest days.
In Karbala, about 85 people were said to
have been killed, as at press time, with about 230 others wounded, while in
Baghdad as many as 75 people were said to have died while another 200 sustained
serious injuries.
Reports said that more than a million
people had flocked to Karbala – 80km south of Baghdad – to commemorate the death
of Imam Hussein in 680 AD while the same number had gathered at the Main Shia
Kadhimiya Shrine in Baghdad for their own celebrations.
According to the reports, this would be
the first time in decades that Iraq’s majority Shia community would freely
observe the holy day as the festival was banned under Saddam Hussein’s
Sunni-dominated regime for fear that it would foment rebellion.
Although the cause of the explosions was
not clear as at press time, reports said some witnesses attributed them to
suicide bombers while some said mortars may have been used.
Speaking from the Kadhimija hospital, head
of its morgue, Abdullah Hatem, was quoted as saying they had received 27
corpses, most of which had suffered terrible wounds to the head and abdomen.
An eye witness, 18-year-old Tarar, said
"We were standing (next to the mosque) when we heard an explosion. We saw flesh,
arms, legs and more flesh. Then the ambulance came."
Reports said the city became very tense
especially for foreigners just as an injured Iranian pilgrim and Italian
photographer were further attacked by Shias carrying ceremonial swords.
U.S Military spokesman Brig Gen. Mark
Kinnitt said three suicide bombars blew themselves up in Baghdad and a fourth
was caught before detonating explosives.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Governing Council has declared three
days of morning.
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