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Calm urged amid Iraq shrine bombs Calm urged amid Iraq shrine bombs
(about 6 hours later)
Political and religious leaders in Iraq have appealed for calm after an attack on one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, the al-Askari shrine in Samarra.Political and religious leaders in Iraq have appealed for calm after an attack on one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, the al-Askari shrine in Samarra.
Blasts destroyed two minarets of the shrine, which houses one of two tombs in the city for revered Shia imams. Blasts destroyed two minarets on the shrine, which houses one of the city's two tombs for revered Shia imams.
Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, condemned the attack but urged people not to respond with violence.Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, condemned the attack but urged people not to respond with violence.
The bombing of the shrine's dome in 2006 was followed by a wave of attacks. A 2006 bombing of the shrine's dome triggered a wave of sectarian violence.
That incident is widely believed to have set off a continuing spiral of sectarian violence in which many thousands have died. Thousands of people have died in scores of attacks that have swept the country since then.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says there are obvious fears this latest attack might give it yet further impetus.
The head of the Shia endowment foundation said the minarets had been blown up by "extremists".
Graphic showing surge in violence after 2006 attack Graphic showing surge in violence after 2006 attack
"It is a terrorist attack aimed at sparking sectarian violence," Sheikh Saleh al-Haidari told AFP news agency. The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says there are obvious fears this latest attack might give the sectarian violence further impetus.
Ayatollah Sistani condemned the attack as a "heinous crime" and urged people "not to follow the path of sectarianism", his office said. Despite appeals for restraint, three Sunni mosques in the Baghdad area were reported to have been attacked shortly after the shrine bombing.
Angry protests Security tightened
Almost immediately after the explosions, a curfew was imposed on Samarra as Iraqi security forces and US troops rushed to the area. In the wake of the blasts in Samarra, a curfew was imposed on the city as Iraqi security forces and US troops rushed to the area.
Meanwhile, police in the shrine's compound reportedly fired into the air to keep away angry Shia demonstrating outside. AL-ASKARI SHRINE FACTS One of the four major Shia shrines in IraqContains tombs of two of the 12 revered Shia imams - Ali al-Hadi and al-Hassan al-AskariFirst developed during the 10th and 11th CenturiesTwo 36m-high golden minarets destroyed in June 200768m-high golden dome blown up in February 2006 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6748339.stm">In pictures: Samarra blasts class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/4739444.stm">Samarra: Pilgrimage centre class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6748723.stm">Iraq on alert after blasts
AL-ASKARI SHRINE FACTS One of the four major Shia shrines in IraqContains tombs of two of the 12 revered Shia imams - Ali al-Hadi and al-Hassan al-AskariFirst developed during the 10th and 11th CenturiesTwo 36m-high golden minarets destroyed in June 200768m-high golden dome blown up in February 2006 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6748339.stm">In pictures: Samarra blasts class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/4739444.stm">Samarra: Pilgrimage centre class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6748723.stm">Iraq on alert after blasts A team of explosives experts from the Iraqi police was also sent to the shrine to ascertain the cause of the blasts. In Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki held emergency meetings with US and Iraqi security chiefs, as well as with the US ambassador.
In the capital, Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki held emergency meetings with US and Iraqi security chiefs, as well as with the US ambassador. Amid fears of an upsurge in violence, Mr Maliki's office announced an open-ended curfew in Baghdad, where extra troops flooded onto the streets.
His office then announced an open-ended curfew in Baghdad too, fearing a possible upsurge in sectarian violence.
Extra troops flooded into the streets, but angry Shia militiamen were ahead of them.
Iraqi police said a Sunni mosque in the east of the city was demolished by explosives.
In a speech on state TV, Mr Maliki called on Iraqis to "stand together against those who want to stir strife".In a speech on state TV, Mr Maliki called on Iraqis to "stand together against those who want to stir strife".
He blamed al-Qaeda in Iraq and supporters of former president Saddam Hussein for the blasts, but added that he had ordered the arrest of all the security forces responsible for protecting the shrine. He blamed al-Qaeda in Iraq and supporters of former president Saddam Hussein for the blasts, and said he had ordered the arrest of all the security forces responsible for protecting the shrine.
A state of emergency has also been declared in Najaf, site of another important Shia shrine, where the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, has declared a three-day period of mourning.A state of emergency has also been declared in Najaf, site of another important Shia shrine, where the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, has declared a three-day period of mourning.
"What did the government do to protect the tombs?" he asked in a statement."What did the government do to protect the tombs?" he asked in a statement.
Mr Sadr also called for peaceful demonstrations to demand an end to the US-led occupation.Mr Sadr also called for peaceful demonstrations to demand an end to the US-led occupation.
Later, the political bloc loyal Mr Sadr suspended participation in parliament, demanding that the government takes "realistic measures" to rebuild Shia and Sunni mosques.Later, the political bloc loyal Mr Sadr suspended participation in parliament, demanding that the government takes "realistic measures" to rebuild Shia and Sunni mosques.
The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says even if there is no renewed upsurge in sectarian bloodletting, the attack comes at a very bad time politically.
It is likely to make it even harder for the prime minister to implement reconciliation measures aimed at persuading Sunni groups to abandon the insurgency because of opposition from Shia political blocs on which he depends.
Pilgrimage centrePilgrimage centre
Samarra, a Sunni Muslim stronghold 100km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, has long been a centre of the armed insurgency against US troops and the Shia-dominated Iraqi administration.Samarra, a Sunni Muslim stronghold 100km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, has long been a centre of the armed insurgency against US troops and the Shia-dominated Iraqi administration.
Little remains of the minarets which stood either side of the shrine Little remains of the minarets that stood either side of the shrine
The al-Askari shrine is of immense spiritual importance for Shia Muslims throughout the world and has attracted millions of pilgrims over the centuries.The al-Askari shrine is of immense spiritual importance for Shia Muslims throughout the world and has attracted millions of pilgrims over the centuries.
Part of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, the shrine contains the remains of the 10th and 11th imams, reputed to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.Part of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, the shrine contains the remains of the 10th and 11th imams, reputed to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
Imam Ali al-Hadi died in 868 AD and his son, al-Hassan al-Askari, died in 874 AD.Imam Ali al-Hadi died in 868 AD and his son, al-Hassan al-Askari, died in 874 AD.
The mosque's two minarets had escaped damage when its famous golden dome was destroyed by a huge explosion in February last year.The mosque's two minarets had escaped damage when its famous golden dome was destroyed by a huge explosion in February last year.
That attack was widely believed to be the work of Sunni militants from the al-Qaeda movement, some of whom were later arrested.That attack was widely believed to be the work of Sunni militants from the al-Qaeda movement, some of whom were later arrested.
Our correspondent says there are bound to be questions about how such an obvious and significant target could have been attacked again.
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