Bomb in Karbala kills al-Sistani aide
Mystery surrounds fate of an Italian national killed in Ramadi.
Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) A major terror attack in Shiite holy city of Karbala killed an important aide to grand ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. The blast, which occurred near the Imam Hussein shrine, killed a total of seven people injuring another 31.
Hamed al-Khafaf, spokesman for al-Sistani, told al-Jazeera that the attack was likely meant for Sheik Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalayee, the ayatollah's representative in Karbala who was wounded in the blast. Several of his bodyguards were among the dead and wounded.
The incident has so far not been claimed but in previous months Sunni militants have attacked Shiites and Shiites shrines.
The bomb at the Imam Hussein Shrine came on the first day of campaigning for Iraq's January 30 election, in which al-Sistani helped put together a powerful coalition of leading Shiite parties that is expected to do well in the vote.
Karbala, Shiite Islam's second holiest city, was the scene of other attacks in the past, the deadliest coming in March, when coordinated bombs and suicide blasts hit pilgrims attending a religious festival, killing at least 181.
Meantime, press sources in Baghdad said that an Italian man was killed. Militants from a hitherto unknown groupthe 'Islamic Movement of Iraqi Mujahideen'are said to have shown photos of Salvatore Santoro to an Iraqi photographer. The 52-year-old Santoro was born near Naples but has been living in the United Kingdom since 1961.
Italian authorities are verifying the accuracy of the information.
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26/01/2005
