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BOMBINGS AT TWO Shiite mosques south of Baghdad killed 13 people on Monday, police and a doctor said, the latest in a string of attacks targeting both Sunni and Shiite places of worship in Iraq.
One bomb exploded inside Al-Wardiyah mosque in the city of Hilla, while a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged belt at Al-Graita mosque nearby, the sources said.
Both blasts, which also wounded another 71 people, occurred during evening prayers.
Dozens of Sunni and Shiite mosques have been targets of such attacks in Iraq this year.
In one of the deadliest attacks, two bombs exploded near the Sunni Saria mosque in Baquba, north of Baghdad, after prayers on Friday.
One device blew up as worshippers were leaving, and the second went off after people gathered at the scene of the first blast, killing a total of 41 people.
Those bombings came after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged belt on Thursday at the entrance to Al-Zahraa husseiniyah, killing 12 people.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for joint Shiite-Sunni prayers on Fridays in a major Baghdad mosque.
“Those who target mosques are enemies of Sunnis and Shiites alike, and are planning to ignite (sectarian) strife,” he said in a statement and on Monday he said he will overhaul Iraq’s security strategy.
Tensions are festering between the government of Maliki, a Shiite, and Sunnis who accuse authorities of marginalising and targeting their community through wrongful detentions and accusations of involvement in terrorism.
Protests broke out in Sunni areas of Iraq almost five months ago.
While the government has made some concessions, freeing prisoners and raising the salaries of Sunni anti-Al-Qaeda fighters, the underlying issues have not been addressed.
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Ah Shiite
Muslims bombing muslims. I swear those guys have it in for everything. I really have to get around to reading the Koran at some stage if guys are that into it.
I’d say some ill informed people from the middle-east made similar comments about European Christians during WW2, WW1, Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War etc etc
Don’t forget Northern Ireland.
Also are you really comparing Mosque bombings with world wars?
Is a Shiite Mosque an Irish Mosque by any chance…..we call it a Shiite Mass here too!!
Don’t mind the red thumbs! I chuckled
Sad and some will blame America. Truth is saddam kept a lid on it through all out fear but he men tortured many many to death. Now its free for all. Bush never stopped too see what his war machine would unleash long term. These are animals. The media should report more on groups behind them their leaders ect and shame us into caring so maybe next time the world will shout now to a pointless war. Hope you rot in hell bush
Bush knew well that by invading Iraq and toppling Saddam he would be opening the gates of hell, but he didn’t care! or maybe it’s exactly as he planned?
What??? Sunni’s and Shiites were killing one another a long time before Iraq.
So sorry to say but ice almost become numb to these stories now; reminds me of when I was a kid during the troubles and every afternoon some soldier or person was killed in the North so you hardly blinked anymore.
Any news on who they poor souls were?
See the bleeding hearts are speechless ….. What’s up lads & lassies ? News flash, no westerner s to kill, so lets kill each other….
Im not bleeding heart but while the West did not plant this bomb the west planted the seeds for this. So much for wmd.
Funny thing while I never would have trusted bush I’d have trusted general powell who seemed to me an honourable person but I guess morals quickly go out the window.
I watched a great series by oliver stone on American history and while I dont agree with him that Afghanistan was a bad idea I do think iraq was. Of they had not taken eye off the ball with iraq if they had not shipped people off to Cuba for jail with out justice if they had not launched attacks into Yemen or Pakistan. If they had git rid of taliban. Allowed education and engaged more with the northern alliance then we would not have the mess.
But America you break it you bought it.
Laois next !!!!
They are all Shiite heads anyway .
I was expecting something totally different fron the headline….. dammit!!!
have your say