Cleric blames US for shrine explosion

Press TV
Friday June 15, 2007

Related: Iraqis Accuse U.S. Of Bombing Shrine

Related: U.S. official: Samarra attack may have been inside job

Lebanon's senior cleric has said the explosions in Iraq's revered Shia shrine in Samarra are part of US conspiracies against Iraq.

According to Iran's Al-Alam news channel, Allameh Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said Thursday that it is essential for all Muslim leaders, whether Sunni or Shia, to denounce the savage crime and bring dishonor on Salafi Takfiri groups as well as the occupation forces.

Referring to more than four years of US-led occupation of Iraq, he stressed, "Without doubt, the occupiers are providing the grounds for Salafi Takfiri groups and intelligence agencies to pillage the country."

Allameh Fadlallah then called upon all Muslims to remain vigilant more than ever before vis-à-vis the US-Zionist plots aimed at fomenting discord among the Islamic nation.

Samarra witnessed further destruction of the shrine of two of the most revered Shia Imams on Wednesday. On February 22, 2006, the holy site came under attack by alleged al-Qaeda militants. Since then the shrine has been heavily guarded by Iraqi forces.