Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/3/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= IRAQ/BLAST AFTERMATH (L)

NUMBER=2-313753

BYLINE= LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=BAGHDAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iraqis are observing three days of national mourning after more than 170 people died in a series of explosions during one of the holiest days of the Shiite Muslim year. VOA Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Baghdad the Iraqi Governing Council postponed the signing of an interim constitution.

TEXT: Even as the three-day mourning period began, an early morning missile attack has damaged a telecommunications office in Baghdad and wounded one Iraqi.

Just the day before, multiple explosions ripped through crowds of pilgrims in Baghdad and Karbala, who were observing the Ashura holiday.

Top Shiite leaders blamed the U-S coalition for not securing the country's borders against the infiltration of foreign extremists. But Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders together are calling for calm and unity, vowing that any attacks aimed at provoking civil war will not succeed.

The top U-S administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, has pledged to track down those responsible for the deadly bombings. U-S officials point to Al Qaeda terrorists they say are trying to foment civil war.

The Iraqi Governing Council has postponed the signing of an interim constitution, which outlines the structure of the transitional government and national assembly that will draft a more permanent constitution and election laws.

But the council members insist the terrorist attacks will not deter them from meeting the June deadline for transferring power from the U-S-led coalition to an interim Iraqi government. (Signed)

NEB/LMK/AWP