Massive car bomb kills 85 at Shiite mosque
A massive car bomb has killed a reported 95 people and wounded more than 150 others near the shrine of the Imam Ali in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq on Friday.
Among the dead was a Shiite Muslim political leader.
Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim was the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution, a group working with allied forces to rebuild the war torn country in post-Saddam Iraq.
Although opposed in principle to the US occupation of Iraq, Baqer al-Hakim was willing to work with the US in the short term.
He returned to Iraq in May after 23 years in exile.
According to some reports, the bomb was housed in Hakim’s car.
The bombing is likely to further polarise Shiite factions into pro- and anti- occupation camps.
The Bush administration condemned the horrific attack “in the strongest terms.”
“This is a heinous crime against the Iraqi people and the international community,” Secretary of State Colin Powell said in a statement.
“We will not be deterred by such unacceptable and immoral acts. The international community must renew its commitment to working with the majority of the Iraqi people who seek to build a free and stable country.
“We and the coalition will make every effort to assist the Iraqi people in the investigation of this brutal attack and do our utmost to bring those responsible to justice,” he added.
