A base of a destroyed minaret of the Golden Dome Shiite shrine in Samarra is seen after insurgents blew up two minarets Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The Askariya shrine's dome was destroyed on Feb. 22, 2006, in a bombing blamed on Sunni Muslim militants believed linked to al Qaeda that unleashed a wave of sectarian violence that continues to bloody Iraq.
A watch tower of the famous Golden Dome Shiite shrine is left standing alone after insurgents blew up the two minarets in Samarra, Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The Askariya shrine's dome was destroyed on Feb. 22, 2006. The Askariya shrine is among Iraq's most sacred sites for Shiite Muslims, drawing pilgrims from around the world.
Destroyed golden minarets are seen at the shrine of the Askariya mosque on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, in the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad, Iraq, after insurgents blew up the two minarets of the Golden Dome Shiite shrine of the Askariya, an important holy site in Shia Islam. No casualties were reported in the attack.
The destroyed shrine of the Askariya mosque is seen on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, in the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad, Iraq. Insurgents blew up the two minarets of the Golden Dome Shiite shrine of the Askariya, an important holy site in Shia Islam Wednesday. The Askariya shrine's dome was originally bombed and destroyed on February 22, 2006 by militants believed to be linked to al Qaeda.
The two minarets of the Golden Dome Shiite shrine of the Askariya in the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad, Iraq, was bombed by insurgents Wednesday, June 13, 2007. An important holy site in Shia Islam, the shrine's dome was originally bombed and destroyed on February 22, 2006 by militants believed to be linked to al Qaeda. The 2006 bombing triggered a wave of sectarian violence.
A woman cries in the city of Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, June 13, 2007, as Iraqi Shiites protested a bombing of a holy Shiite shrine in Samarra earlier in the day. Suspected al Qaeda insurgents destroyed the two minarets of the Askariya Shiite shrine in a repeat of a 2006 bombing that shattered its famous Golden Dome and unleashed a wave of retaliatory sectarian violence in Iraq.
A man carries a portrait of most influential Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy city of Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, June 13, 2007, as Iraqi Shiites protested a bombing of a holy Shiite shrine in Samarra earlier in the day.
Women cry in the city of Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, June 13, 2007, as Iraqi Shiites protested a bombing of a holy Shiite shrine in Samarra earlier in the day.
Left: The Shrine of the Askariya, along with its two minarets, are seen December 1, 2003, in downtown Samarra, Iraq. Right: A watch tower of the famous Golden Dome shrine is left standing alone after insurgents blew up the two minarets in Samarra, Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The Askariya shrine's dome was destroyed on Feb. 22, 2006.