Iraqis killed in holy city bomb (Najaf)

[IndianaGreen]

Last Updated: Sunday, 24 August, 2003, 14:24 GMT 15:24 UK
Iraqis killed in holy city bomb

An explosion near the main mosque in the holy Shia Muslim city of Najaf in central Iraq has killed two people, US military officials say.

"There was an explosion 800 metres (yards) south of the Imam al-Ali mosque in Najaf at 0310 (1110 GMT) this afternoon. Two Iraqis were killed and one was wounded," said US military spokesman.

The bomb was intended to kill a leading Shia cleric Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim who suffered scratches on his neck, Iraqi Shia sources were quoted as saying.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3177987.stm

[NNN0LHI]

1. The guy they were tryingto kill is on the US hand picked Iraqi council n/t

[IndianaGreen]

2. Is this part of the pattern of targeting collaborators?

One cannot readily dismiss the bad blood among the Shia leaders, all of whom are competing with each other to become the supreme Ayatollah, including the one in Sadr city.

What a better way to get rid of a rival than to make it look like someone else did it!

[molok555]

3. Think it could be al Sadr's boys?

Maybe he's starting to think this is a good time to move.

[J B]

4. It might.

Taking Sadr out and making a martyr out of him could be extremely dangerous at this point. Living martyrs take extra chances for this reason because they're like popular gladiators: the crowd is their protection. So until proven otherwise, he can go after al-Hakim with impunity.

Not that I think al-Hakim will take this laying down.

[lumpy]

5. I believe this is the work of Saddam Baathist loyalists

recruited by the US military to do covert operations in Iraq. More attempted assassinations to come and who is ultimatly responsible ?

[IndianaGreen]

6. CNN update: August 24, 2003 Posted: 2156 GMT ( 5:56 AM HKT)

Sunday, August 24, 2003 Posted: 2156 GMT ( 5:56 AM HKT)

Bomb kills 3 at cleric's home

A spokesman for al-Hakim told CNN that two guards outside the building and a worker inside the office were killed and that 10 people -- mostly pedestrians -- were wounded, one seriously.

The ayatollah was walking through a hallway when the blast went off and received minor injuries from glass shards, the spokesman said.

An explosive device detonated inside a gas canister that had been left outside an office where the ayatollah's son was working, the spokesman said.

The explosion is being seen as an attempt to assassinate al-Hakim, CNN's Ben Wedeman said from Najaf.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/24/sprj.irq.intl.main/index.html