FEARS of sectarian strife were growing in Iraq after a large explosion heavily damaged the golden dome of the shrine of Imam Ali Al-Hadi and his son Hassan Al-Askri, one of Iraq's most famous Shia religious shrines on Wednesday. Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He reiterated Egypt's solidarity with the Iraqi people and reaffirmed Egypt's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. Tension was running high throughout the country prompting thousands of protesters to take to the streets in Baghdad and Samaraa in response to a call by Shia religious leaders to demonstrate against the blast. Waving the Iraqi flag, demonstrators carried copies of the Quran and vowed to punish those responsible for the attack. The blast took place when, according to Iraqi police sources a group of armed men attacked the mausoleum of Imam Ali Al-Hadi at 7am (04:00 GMT), neutralised the policemen guarding the building before placing two explosive charges and blowing them up. Although there were no reported injuries, police believe that an unknown number of people may have been buried under the debris. Iraqi officials said the attack "bears the imprint of Al-Qaeda which wants to bring about civil war in Iraq". In an attempt to contain the anger and tension, religious leaders at other mosques and shrines throughout Samaraa denounced Wednesday's mosque attack in statements read over loudspeakers. The Sunni Endowment, a government organisation that cares for Sunni mosques and shrines, condemned the blast describing it as "a criminal act" and said it was sending a delegation to Samaraa to investigate. Many believe that such sectarian-inspired attacks are meant to drive a wedge between Iraq's Sunnis and Shia population. Iraq's top religious Shia authority Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani called on Iraqis to "close the road to those who want to undermine national unity". It was the third major attack against Shia targets in less than three days. on Tuesday a car bomb exploded on a street packed with shoppers in Al-Dora, a Shia-dominated district in Baghdad. The explosion claimed the lives of 22 people and left 28 wounded. Iraq's Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari declared three days of national mourning in the country.
