The US overseer in Iraq, Paul Bremer, condemned the car bomb blast in the Shiite holy city of Najaf Friday that killed at least 17 people, including prominent Shiite leader Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim, and wounded more than 200.
"The bombing today in Al-Najaf shows that the enemies of the new Iraq will stop at nothing. They have killed innocent Iraqis. Again they have violated Islam's most sacred places," Bremer said in a statement.
"Again, by their heinous action, they have shown the evil face of terrorism. On the behalf of the provisional authority, the American people and all friends of Iraq, I express my deepest sympathy to the families of those killed and to the injured and their families.
"The Iraqi police have our full cooperation in this important investigation. I pledge that the coalition will do everything possible to see that the perpertrators are brought to justice."
Hakim, head of the Iran-backed Supreme Assembly of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SAIRI), was killed moments after he delivered his weekly sermon at the Tomb of Ali in the holy city, 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of Baghdad, party officials said in both Baghdad and Tehran. |
