BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 25, 2007
Bomb Kills 7 In Shiite Area Of Baghdad
Vehicles Banned From Baghdad In Advance Of Religious Ceremony, Following Car Bomb Explosion
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Iraqi Army's soldiers organize a line of cars at a checkpoint in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007. A car bomb exploded in northern Baghdad on Saturday, killing seven passers-by and wounding dozens of others in an apparent sectarian attack near the capital's most important Shiite shrine. (AP Photo/ Karim Kadim)
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Photo Essay Shiites Mark Ashoura One of the holiest days of year for Shiites marked amid increased tensions with Sunni Muslims.
News of the ban came hours after a car bomb killed seven people and wounded dozens near Baghdad's most important Shiite shrine. Sunni extremists have staged attacks in the past during Shiite festivals, which have drawn huge crowds since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.
It was the second vehicle ban in Baghdad this month in connection with Shiite rituals.
The latest ban was ordered to protect Shiite pilgrims traveling to Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, to attend ceremonies marking the birthday of the "Hidden Imam," a 9th century religious figure who devout Shiites believe will return to Earth to usher in the rule of peace.
The festival reaches its high point Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
The ban was widely expected even before Saturday's car bomb. It will cover all vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles as of 6 p.m. Saturday, the television quoted military spokesman Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Mousawi as saying.
Vehicles were banned in Baghdad from Aug. 8 through the morning of Aug. 11 during Shiite ceremonies honoring another Shiite saint, Imam Musa Kadhim, who is buried in the capital.
The noontime bombing in the Kazimiyah district of Baghdad occurred when a bomb hidden in a parked car exploded in busy Oruba Square about 500 yards from Imam Kadhim's tomb.
A medic at the local hospital said seven people were killed and 30 wounded, including two children.
Shop owner Hussein Abdul Rahman, who suffered minor shrapnel injuries, said the square was less crowded than usual because some many people had joined the pilgrimage to Karbala.
"Thank God — it could have been much worse than this," he said.
No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Sunni religious extremists who consider Shiites as heretics and collaborators with the Americans.
The U.S. command in Baghdad announced the grisly discovery of an execution site in the Arab Jabour area just south of the capital, a Sunni Arab area where al Qaeda in Iraq is known to operate.
During a 24-hour operation on Tuesday and Wednesday, soldiers found human skulls, decomposing bodies in a pit and bones wrapped in bloody clothes, U.S. spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said in a statement. Troops found blood spatter in a nearby building and other signs that executions had taken place there.
The troops took fire as they entered the area and shot back, killing one suspected terrorist, Garver said. Eight others were taken into custody, and the U.S. troops discovered homemade bombs and a weapons cache including trigger wires.
In a series of pre-dawn raids Saturday targeting al Qaeda in Iraq, U.S. forces killed three insurgent suspects and captured 17 others, Garver said.
Among those seized in an operation northeast of Samarra was a man who is suspected of providing money for weapons and other support to foreign fighters, and a suspected "associate" of senior al Qaeda leaders who had been sent to Beiji to set up operations there, he said.
In preparation for the ceremonies in Karbala, police asked hotel owners not to accept guests who have no passports or residency papers as protection against Sunni extremists infiltrating the crowds.
Police said vehicles would be banned from the city to prevent car bombings. Cordons of police checkpoints were being set up to protect the two major shrines that are the focal points of the ceremonies, said Raid Shakir Jawdat, Karbala's provincial police chief.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 82 CommentsPosted by ToolMangler
Now Tool we need you here. I am not going to vote for a single incumbent or democrat or republican. They have failed us. I will be looking long and hard at independents before I cast my vote.
Posted by radiob at 06:36 PM : Aug 26, 2007
HiYa'' radio, It is my intent to not vote for a single incumbent or rightwinger. I guess that means I should move to Australia, who knows, maybe I might meet up with Quigley and just chill in the outback. (anybody thats been there knows how much fun that is).
Posted by ToolMangler
Not with the current two party system, we do not have statesmen, we do not have candiates of vision. Lets rid America of the the current "power" groups democrats and republicans and replace them with statesmen.
--- You want faster results as everyone except Republicans & Remember They have lost Iraq obviously & flooded eveery newspaper & news source with BS Goebbels propaganda.... Think about it.
-- Iraqi deaths doubled,,, Congressmen went to Iraq on last visit for the usual Petreaus presentation & typical showboat guided tour all Rosey..
,, Iraq leaders say the US is still incharge of everything including appointing governemt & intel officials,
,, There still is not 1 Irarqi leading thier missions --
--- It is still the same "Wackamo" as it was 4 years ago,, & we have limited control of part of Bagdad & a few cities...
.. Our America''''s Own Republicans Are Sworn To Party Loyalty Rather Than Honor To America
J Where is the outrage from the democrats on the "funding" of terrorist? Did you forget about it? The democrats have not talked about it. What about the democrats selling this nation to every third world nation with the republicans help? Give them time? Time for both of the current political partys to destroy what is remaining of America?
1) john wilkes boothe
2) pat robertson
3) george bush, jr.
4) jimmy (**********) swaggart
5) tom delay
6) jefferson davis
7) grand wizard of the k.k.k.
8) george wallace
9) tom foley
0) jerrry falwell
all southern, all christian, all republican, all snakes...
bush loving, slave state, republican snakes, christian freak south.
ha,ha,ha.
war, hate, reborns, rednecks...
that''''s the south for you, folks!
- Now at least they have lost thier civil service jobs & I hope a few are in Jail -
--- Talk about do nothing Congress--- I gave Duncan Hunter plenty of evidenence & he did nothing ------
---- It''s a problem in every department in government for at least since the creation of the civil service.
the south prefers fine, upstanding, christian , faith professing republicans
and top notch leadership like george bush, jr.
the south would like to find another prez like george bush. jr.
the southern states are considering drafting rush limbaugh to be the republican candidate.
he has all the qualifications...
fat, bigoted, republican, christian, drug user, demogogue.
oh well, that''s the south for you, folks!
-- Now we are talking about How Fast To Pull Out & how many is "Left Behind" & Bush is stuck in his corner yelling "Patientce" ---
-- Not too bad since "Do Nothing Dems have only had control since March,,, BRAVO ZULU
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