Bomb blast destroys revered Shiite mosque

SAMARRA, Iraq -- Assailants wearing uniforms detonated two bombs inside one of Iraq's most revered Shiite shrines Wednesday, blowing the top off its landmark golden dome and spawning mass protests and reprisal attacks against dozens of Sunni mosques.\nThe brazen assault -- the third major attack against Shiite targets in as many days -- threatened to inflame religious passions as talks among sectarian and ethnic parties on a new government have bogged down.\nNo group claimed responsibility for the 6:55 a.m. attack on the Askariya shrine in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, but suspicion fell on Sunni extremist groups.\nA Shiite political leader and many demonstrators also blamed the United States and its criticism of Shiite-led security forces that have been blamed for alleged abuses against Sunnis.\nPresident Bush urged restraint among rival religious factions and pledged American help to restore the shrine.\n"The terrorists in Iraq have again proven that they are enemies of all faiths and of all humanity," the president said in a written statement. "The world must stand united against them and steadfast behind the people of Iraq."\nU.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and the top American commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, called the bombings a deliberate attempt to elevate sectarian strife and warned it was a "critical moment for Iraq."\nShiite leaders called for peace, but militants attacked Sunni mosques and a gunfight broke out between Shiite militiamen and guards at the offices of a Sunni political party in Basra. About 500 soldiers were sent to Sunni neighborhoods in Baghdad to prevent clashes between the sects, Army Capt. Jassim al-Wahash said.\nShiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani sent instructions to his followers forbidding attacks on Sunni mosques, especially the major ones in Baghdad. He called for seven days of mourning, his aides said.\nAl-Sistani and Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi later hinted that religious militias could be given a bigger security role if the government is not capable of protecting holy shrines like the one attacked in Samarra.\nThe Iraqi Islamic Party, the country's largest Sunni political group, said at least 60 mosques were attacked, burned or taken over by Shiites. A leading Sunni politician, Tariq al-Hashimi, urged clerics and politicians to calm the situation "before it spins out of control."\nA government statement said "several suspects" had been detained in the attack on the mosque in Samarra.\nThe Askariya shrine contains the tombs of two revered Shiite imams, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad who are considered by Shiites to be among his successors.\nThe Interior Ministry said four men, one wearing a military uniform and three clad in black, entered the mosque and detonated two bombs, one of which collapsed the dome, leaving just traces of gold showing through the rubble.\nPart of the shrine's tiled northern wall also was damaged.\nPolice said Wednesday afternoon no casualties had been found as Iraqis picked through the debris, pulling out artifacts.\nU.S. and Iraqi forces surrounded the shrine and searched nearby houses. Five police officers responsible for protecting the mosque were taken into custody, said Col. Bashar Abdullah, chief of police commandos.\nDemonstrators then gathered near the shrine, waving Iraqi flags, Shiite religious banners and copies of the Muslim holy book, the Quran.\n"This criminal act aims at igniting civil strife," said Mahmoud al-Samarie, a 28-year-old builder. "We demand an investigation so that the criminals who did this be punished. If the government fails to do so, then we will take up arms and chase the people behind this attack."\nReligious leaders at other mosques and shrines throughout the city denounced the attack in statements read over loudspeakers.\nIn Baghdad, National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie blamed religious zealots such as al-Qaida, telling Al-Arabiya television the attack was an attempt "to pull Iraq toward civil war."\nAbdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Shiite Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, said the United States shared the blame, citing a statement by Khalilzad that America would not continue to support institutions run by sectarian groups with links to armed militias.\n"These statements were the reason for more pressure and gave green lights to terrorist groups. And, therefore, he shares in part of the responsibility," al-Hakim said.\nCommandos under Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, a member of al-Hakim's party, have been accused by Sunni Arabs of widespread human rights abuses against Sunni civilians.\nThe United States urged Iraqis to avoid sectarian strife.\n"I ask all Iraqis to exercise restraint in the wake of this tragedy and to pursue justice in accordance with the laws and constitution of Iraq. Violence will only contribute to what the terrorists sought to achieve by this act," Bush said, adding the United States would work with Iraqis to rebuild and restore the mosque.