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Supreme Leader condoles with Iraqi nation over martyrdom of Ayatollah Hakim

IRNA

Tehran, Aug 30, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution 
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a message of condolence here 
Friday on the occasion of martyrdom of Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer Hakim.
Ayatollah Hakim was the head of the Supreme Assembly of the 
Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SAIRI) who was killed in a car bomb 
explosion in the Iraqi city of Najaf when he was returning from Najaf 
Friday prayers yesterday which he himself had led. 
In his message, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the sinful hands of 
the servants of the hegemonic powers created another great tragedy 
once again in which the Iraqi nation was robbed of a priceless 
personality who was considered as a solid stronghold against the 
occupiers of Iraq. 
Pointing to the way the ayatollah was martyred, the Supreme Leader
described him as a combating scholar who had spent long years to 
restore rights of the Iraqi nation against the Baathist regime and 
then stood strongly firm against American and British occupiers. 
Today`s tragedy in Najaf and the martyrdom of this grand scholarly
combatant was undoubtedly carried out in line with the objectives of 
the US and the Zionists, the message stressed. 
The martyrdom of this grand combatant is another proof to the fact
that the occupiers have imposed insecurity and chaos to the country 
with their illegitimate presence in Iraq, the message read. 
The Supreme Leader further stressed in his message that the 
enemies of Muslims and of an independent Iraq should be aware of the 
fact that this sad event would never result in demoralizing the Iraqi 
nation so as not to confront the plans and goals of the hegemonic 
powers and the Zionists or to weaken their faith in Islam and the 
religious leadership. 
The message concluded by reminding the Iraqi nation of the fact 
that the only way for them to get rid of the dangerous plots of the 
hegemonic powers and the Zionists was their unity under the glorious 
flag of Islam. 
The Supreme Leader also declared three days of mourning to mark 
the martyrdom of Ayatollah Hakim and his associates. 
President Mohammad Khatami, too, issued a message on the occasion.
He condemned the killing of the ayatollah in his message and 
described it as an "ugly terrorist act". 
He also condoled with the Najaf Seminary, Iraqi nation and the 
Hakim Household over the ayatollah`s martyrdom. 
The Majlis speaker, Iranian cabinet, Foreign Minister Kamal 
Kharrazi and the head of the joint chiefs of staff of the armed 
forces issued similar messages on the occasion on Friday as well. 
1424/210 
End