Iraq Mosque Attack Sparks Wave Of Sectarian Violence

Iraq Mosque Attack Sparks Wave Of Sectarian Violence

There's been continued violence in Iraq following an attack on one of Shi'ite Islam's most important shrines. More than 50 people are reported to have been killed in sectarian reprisals sparked by the 22 February attack on the Golden Mosque in Samarra. The country's president has warned of the danger of civil war.

PRAGUE, 23 February 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The attack sparked fury, with thousands of Shi'a spilling into streets across the country to condemn the assault on one of their holiest shrines.

There were appeals for calm from Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari and the country's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

But they appear to have gone unheeded.

Sunni Mosques Targeted

At least 50 people have been killed across the country in the past day, and dozens of Sunni mosques have been attacked.

The muezzin of a mosque in Baquba showed Reuters where bullet holes pockmarked the door and walls.

"The mosque was attacked at dawn -- five minutes after the call for dawn prayer," the unidentified muezzin said. "We have five guards at the mosque, and after prayer call they returned to their room. And then two cars drove near the gate of the mosque and gunmen armed with AK-47 assault rifles and machine guns stormed the guard rooms. There were three guards in the room, and they showered them with a hail of bullets and also threw two hand grenades at them before running away."

There were other apparent reprisals.

A Slide Toward Civil War?

In Al-Basrah, gunmen stormed a prison and killed 11 suspected Sunni militants.

Three journalists working for Al-Arabiyah television were found shot dead after being attacked while filming in Samarra.

The violence has sparked fears Iraq could slide toward civil war.

President Jalal Talabani warned of that danger in a televised address, the mere mention of the words an indication of the seriousness of the situation.

Through White House spokesman Scott McClellan, U.S. President George W. Bush urged Iraqis to show restraint.

"[U.S. President George W. Bush asks] all Iraqis to exercise restraint in the wake of this tragedy, and to pursue justice in accordance with the laws and constitution of Iraq," McClellan said. "Violence will only contribute to what the terrorists sought to achieve by this act."

No Claim Of Responsibility

Amid the violence, it's still unclear who was responsible for reducing Samarra's Golden Mosque to rubble.

The United States blamed terrorists, and Iraqi officials pointed the finger at Al-Qaeda. Iran blamed Israel and the United States.

Whoever is responsible, there's already a political spillover. The main Sunni political group in Iraq boycotted a planned meeting today with Talabani and other politicians in protest at what it says is the government's failure to protect Sunni sites.

(compiled from agency reports)

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Iraq Mosque Attack Sparks Wave Of Sectarian Violence